[Harp-L] ii-V-I, But Lacking Resolution

[The Iceman]

Chord substitutions are not worked out ahead of time in most cases. At this level, the musicians just play.

>>but an improvised melody (by, say, a harmonica player) over chord substitutions (by, say, the band (or a keyboard or guitar player)) at the same time?  Seems like things might start to get rather woolly.  How does that work in the wild?<<



At a certain level, it is called "in the moment - listening and responding". Here is where memorized patterns and licks don't work as well as "knowing". Once you reach this level, you can soar like an eagle over the changes, looking down and crafting ideas that flow through them. Getting there is totally worth the effort.


-----Original Message-----
From: Tin Lizzie <TrackHarpL at xxxxx>
To: John Kally <jkally3 at xxxxx>
Cc: harp-l <harp-l at xxxxx>
Sent: Wed, Sep 13, 2017 12:12 pm
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] ii-V-I, But Lacking Resolution

Hi, John,

Thanks for this reference.  Are chord substitutions worked out ahead of time between the soloist and the band?  I can see playing a melody as written over chords as written, and an alternate melody or solo over chords as written, and chord substitutions under a known melody...   but an improvised melody (by, say, a harmonica player) over chord substitutions (by, say, the band (or a keyboard or guitar player)) at the same time?  Seems like things might start to get rather woolly.  How does that work in the wild?

Best,
Tin Lizzie


On Sep 7, 2017, at 1:18 PM, John Kally wrote:

> FWIW, a couple of books by Dick Hyman are worth checking out if you want to see some of the differences between printed arrangements and the chords presented . He included the common changes and then his substitutions in red. I’ll bet that some of the “great American songbook” tunes can be found there.  Years ago my guitar teacher, Wrecking Crew session player Al Casey, would pull these out just to show the way different chords over the same melody can change the way things sound. Also, he felt that  lead sheets sometimes contained mistakes and would keep a pencil handy.  One of the Hayman  titles is Professional Chord Changes and Substitutions for 100 Tunes Every Musician Should Know, but I know there are at least two volumes.