Difference between *block chords* and *Barry Harris* voicings

Question

I’ve been wondering for a while about the main differences between the so called block chords, and the also famous Barry Harris diminished voicings.

I use Barry Harris voicings all the time and the idea is to constantly alternate between the Maj6/Min6 chord if we harmonize chord tones (1-3-5-6) and the relative dominant(7b9) chord if we harmonize other tones that do not belong to the chord.

Personally I love this voicing and I use it all the time, even though it only works (from what I am concerned) for Major and Minor chords but cannot be used, for example on dominant 7s. Or for example I could not harmonize a non-chord tone while maintaining the quality of the chord (let’s say I would like to harmonize the F over a EbMaj9).

So from here I guess that there’s the (more extended) idea of block chords (locked hands and drop 2s): if I want to harmonize a EbMaj9 with the 9th on top then I could hit F - G - Bb -D -F (omitting the tonic, using locked hands) or by using the tastier drop2 scheme we would use the voicing D-G-Bb-F.

Is it all of this kinda correct? 😀

Answer 1

Block Chords vs. Broken Chords

The term block chord refers to any chord in which all of the notes are sounded simultaneously. This is in contrast to broken chords in which notes are sounded sequentially. These terms refer to the manner of execution of the individual notes within a chord, but are a separate concept from chord voicings.

[In] Block chord style ... "the notes of each chord may be played all at once" as opposed to being "played one at a time (broken or arpeggiated chords). (SOURCE)

Chord Voicing

Voicing refers to the relative placement of each note within the chord: the order from lowest to highest and the distance between each note. It can also refer to alterations to the chord For example, a CM7 chord, from bottom to top, could be "voiced" C E G B, C G E B, B E G C, or any other permutation of those four notes. A Cm7 chord (C Eb G Bb) might be "voiced" C F Bb — a "quartal" voicing — to give additional harmonic freedom to, say, an improvising soloist.

Block Chord Style

This is a style of accompaniment that primarily employs block chords. It can involve any voicing(s) and rhythm(s) of the individual chords.

Example: Count Basie - "Splanky"

Locked Hands Voicing / Double Melody / Shearing Voicing

This is a sub-category of block chord style in which

1. The top note of the right and left hand parts include the melody note.
2. The chords move in one-to-one lock step with the melody.

Example: George Shearing - "Lullaby of Birdland"

Barry Harris Voicing

This is also a sub-category of block chord style emphasizing the use of Major6 and Minor6 chords as well as drop 2 voicings. It can be used in combination with locked hands style, but the focus is primarily on the specific voicings as opposed to rhythmic/melodic placement.

Example: Barry Harris - "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square"