Re: [Harp-L] voicings part deux

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

A mostly solid and informative post. However, a couple of corrections.

Over a C chord, D F# and A would be 9, #11, and 13, respectively. (you wrote that F# and A would be #9 and 13).

Also, extensions and voicings are separate concepts, which isn't entirely clear from what you wrote.

Extensions add notes to chords, while voicings refer to how far apart the notes are spaced.

==EXTENSIONS

Extensions are created when you extend a chord by adding notes above the basic 1-3-5 triad. Often this is done by adding notes in the same odd-number sequence:

1-3-5-7-9-11-13. 

Once you get to 13, you've added all the notes of a 7-note scale.

You can use some or all of these notes, omit notes in the chain, and raise or lower individual notes.

Sometimes these extensions are referred to as upper structures, esepcially when the lower elements are omitted.

==VOICINGS

Voicings are not unique to chord extensions. Voicings refer to how far apart the notes are spaced, along with which notes of the chord are on the top, bottom, and in the middle. 

Even a simple triad can be voiced different ways, which will produce different effects. 

For instance, you could voice C-E-G as close as possible, with C on the bottom and two octaves below Middle C - very thick and "tubby," as my arranging teacher used to say.

Or you could voice that same triad with E on the bottom. C above that, and then G above that. This wider spacing will produce a more spacious, yet rich voicing, while placing the 3rd of the chord on the bottom will create an instability that will lead the listener to expect movement to a more stable chord with the root on the bottom.

Winslow

Winslow Yerxa

Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5

--- On Tue, 10/27/09, icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx> wrote:

From: icemanle@xxxxxxx <icemanle@xxxxxxx>
Subject: [Harp-L] voicings part deux
To: jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx, harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2009, 9:27 AM


 Usually what these statements mean is a "voicing" or particular sound.

Everyone knows what a simple triad sounds like - for instance, root, third, fifth.  Key of "C" = C, E, G. Play on the piano and listen. It is very familiar sounding.

When you start to move away from the same old same old sound, the new sound has a uniqueness to it that is easy to get in your inner ear through exposure. It is a specific"voicing" when you use the same placement of intervals, usually easier to hear than to describe. Upon hearing it, one may comment "oh yeah, I know that sound". You may not know what is is called in music terms (yet).

What this hard bop pianist voicing sounds like is easy to play on the piano. Once you hear the sound, you may say "Oh yeah", too.

A simple rule of thumb for these voicing extensions is to have the left hand play the root, third and seventh (major, minor, whatever the chord calls for - in this case, key of "C" would be C, E and Bb. The upper extension of this chord is usually played as D, F# and A in the right hand. It is the F# and A that are the actual sharp 9 and the 13th. Left hand just below middle C, right hand just above. Play both hands together and listen to the sound. This is the "voicing". Notice that you can omit the D and it still has a similar sound. I, personally, like how it sounds with the D.

Now, in jazz groups, the pianist may omit that root C, letting the bass player define the tonal center. Try it and listen to this '"voicing". It won't sound so grounded, but still sounds very hip.

It is also sometimes notated as D/C7, which means a D chord played over (or above) a C7 chord. It sounds the same. In music, the same sound may be described a few different ways.


What I read in fact said: Hard bop  pianists commonly add a sharpened
eleventh and thirteenth.

So I guess the thirteenth is not in fact sharpened. This stuff gets
confusing for me.


 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tue, Oct 27, 2009 11:52 am
Subject: [Harp-L] pardon me










Earlier I wrote:"Also jazzers use a sharp 11th and sharp 13th."

What I read in fact said: Hard bop  pianists commonly add a sharpened
eleventh and thirteenth.

So I guess the thirteenth is not in fact sharpened. This stuff gets
confusing for me.

I apologize for any confusion.

-- 
Rainbow Jimmy
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1372404/dhoozh_chapter_1.html
http://www.myspace.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals
_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l



 

_______________________________________________
Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l