I finally had read it too many times: "Whether it's C6 or Am7 depends on the context." Finally I had to figure out what this "context" is that everyone keeps talking about. I did an internet search and found surprisingly little about this but what I did find suggested that the difference between a C6 and an Am7 is determined by the lowest note in the inversion (assuming that the lowest note is either C or A, if it's E or G then all bets are off). If this is true then in normal music theory "context" has nothing to do with it. By this definition the 4 open strings on the uke would be a C6 and not an Am7 regardless of context.
Now I understand that we are talking about the Ukulele here and sometimes normal music theory goes out the window (see Hawaiian D7). Given the limitations of the uke it makes sense we should use the names C6 and Am7 interchangeably but I'm no closer to understanding this idea of "context" than I was before.
At this point I'm inclined to think that the naming of the chord either C6 or Am7 is pretty arbitrary but if you can explain to me what is meant by "context" I'm all ears, um, eyes. Thanks.
Now I understand that we are talking about the Ukulele here and sometimes normal music theory goes out the window (see Hawaiian D7). Given the limitations of the uke it makes sense we should use the names C6 and Am7 interchangeably but I'm no closer to understanding this idea of "context" than I was before.
At this point I'm inclined to think that the naming of the chord either C6 or Am7 is pretty arbitrary but if you can explain to me what is meant by "context" I'm all ears, um, eyes. Thanks.