Unusual Chords & Voicings
We explore slash chords, cluster voicings and upper structure triads variations to then apply these voicings to 5 well-known jazz standards.
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Unusual Chords & Voicings
We explore slash chords, cluster voicings and upper structure triads variations to then apply these voicings to 5 well-known jazz standards.
This course pays special attention to the chords that students tend to find difficult. Slash Chord may look intimidating but once you understand what the notation means, you will be able to navigate them with ease.
A nice contrast to open position voicings are Cluster Voicings. These densely packed groups of notes create interesting textures and are a useful tool in solo piano performance.
We then explore Major & Minor Upper Structures. By now you should be familiar with dominant upper structure voicings and so we can apply the same concept to major and minor chords. By visualising minor and major chords in two separate parts, it will give you access to a winder variety of voicings for the same chord. You can manipulate a simple voicing by inverting and doubling notes of the upper structure.
The course contains 6 advanced jazz standard arramgements where we apply all of the course theory topics in context of actual tunes.
We can also achieve some really interesting sounds by applying upper structure triad theory to both major and minor chords.
Slash chords contain 2 bits of info, the 1st letter indicates what chord should be played & the 2nd letter specifies the bass note of the chord.
Cluster voicings are tightly spaced groups of 3 or more notes that act as a chord. They don't usually contain both ‘essential chord tones which are 3 & 7.
My One & Only Love is a jazz ballad written by Guy Wood. The tune follows a 32 measure AABA form and is usually played in the key of C major.
Like Someone In Love is one of the great jazz standards. The tune is written in the key of Eb Major and follows a 32 measure A1 - B1 - A2 - B2 form.
Thelonious Monk's Round Midnight contains lots of interesting chord changes. Written in the key of Eb Minor, there are 6 flats to watch out for!
Time Remembered is unusual tune as is doesn't contain any dominant 7th or diminished chords. It is a modal composition with interesting changes.
In Part 1 we run through the first half of the tune. We start with simple voicings and then create a more modern sound using chords built from 4ths.
In part 2 of this jazz standard tutorial we explore some interesting quartal voicings for 251s and also apply pentatonic harmony to the chord changes.
Joe Zawinul's 'Midnight Mood' is a 24 measure A-B tune. The form is repetitive which creates the opportunity to and add some interesting chord substitutions.
For the first time through the form we play simple voicings and for the 2nd chorus we add some interesting fills and reharmonisation.
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Major and Minor Upper Structures Cheat Sheet File Type: pdf
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My One & Only Love Transcription File Type: pdf
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Wee Small Hours – Chord Changes File Type: pdf
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Wee Small Hours – Midi File File Type: midi
to this course, right now!