All Questions
87 questions
1
vote
1
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64
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Modal mixture- are ''avoid notes' a thing?
I know that in jazz, we have numerous scale options over any given chord.
If we have a C major 7 and want an alternative to playing C Ionian, we pick a different scale that has the same 3rd and 7th ...
- 793
3
votes
4
answers
238
views
Do 'avoid' notes depend on register?
Looking at 'avoid' notes, it seems that the general rule is: do not play a note which is a minor second above a chord note e.g avoid F over a C major chord as this forms a minor 2nd interval with E.
...
- 793
0
votes
2
answers
183
views
Babylon Sisters intro . Harmony?
in the Babylon sister intro,
What is going on with the F#/E- A7b5-Ebmin7 ? ( my sheet music says Ebmajsus4 )
Just wanted advice on how to label
The chord functions.
I’ve circled the part in blue on ...
- 81
1
vote
1
answer
328
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How to interpret this awkward runs and base chord? La La Land Mia & Sebastian's Theme runs
In the last section of Mia and Sebastian's Theme from La La Land, there were a lot of quick runs. Upon transcription I found the relationship of the scale and the base chord is rather unusual.
First ...
- 183
2
votes
1
answer
323
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Bass line and chord mismatch - Afternoon in Paris
In Lewis and Sacha Distel version of Afternoon in Paris, Distel only played section A and repeat when his solo ends at 4:41, then was the break. After the break, Lewis picked up the rest of the ...
- 183
5
votes
2
answers
526
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what's the role of Ebmaj7 on this Ebmaj7 D7#9 Gm9 progression?
I'm trying to understand this chord progression:
Ebmaj7 D7#9 Gm9
Ebmaj7 F#dim7 Gm9 Bb13
I know from D7#9 to Gm9, that's a V-i.
But where's the Ebmaj7 coming from? Does it come from the relative major ...
- 501
7
votes
1
answer
334
views
How does Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah use harmonic "forecasting cells"?
Creative improvising (aka jazz) musician Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah's website talks about him “developing the harmonic convention known as the ‘forecasting cell’” but it doesn't go into more depth ...
- 485
3
votes
1
answer
110
views
Is there a historic origin for final ending (cadence) of V-I with melody tones ^3 ^1 in some jazz standards?
In some jazz standards I see a final ending of V-I using melody tones ^3 ^1, for example...
Cherokee in B flat
All of Me in C
Note that the ^3 in those examples is not some kind of embellishment of ^...
- 59.5k
3
votes
2
answers
206
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Jazz vs Classical interpretation of this V7c vs iv-m6 chord in a common chord progress?
Here is a progression in a song I am playing
On the 3rd beat of the second measure there is a Dm6 or G9/D chord (or B half diminished first inversion): at least that's what Carl Kress is playing ...
- 370
4
votes
3
answers
153
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Do sus chords exist in Locrian?
I have recently been exploring chords in the Locrian mode. Down to the flattened 5th and 9th degrees, I have come up with some pretty bizarre sus chords. This got me thinking: Are such chords still ...
- 793
2
votes
2
answers
375
views
Old school reharmonization of jazz songs
I'm wondering how to reharmonize a jazz song using a traditional jazz style that avoids modern substitutions and extensions.
As an example, I've got this score here. You can see the two ...
- 370
16
votes
4
answers
2k
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How much of a jazz tune should I pre-arrange?
I have been learning jazz piano (mainly solo) for a few months and am trying to incorporate more color and more interesting voicings in my chords. However, I find it very difficult to keep the ...
- 171
3
votes
2
answers
1k
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Interpolated chords: How do they work?
Recently, I studied the tune 'Misty' by Eroll Garner. I was slightly confused as to the middle section of the piece, as it involves a passage with some delayed resolutions. I have come across three ...
- 793
4
votes
2
answers
1k
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How does music theory explain I-VII7-I? [duplicate]
In the tune called Whispering we find C-B7-C (I-VII7-I). The melody descends from C to B in bars 2 and 3. The chords also do this. B7 sounds a bit like a dominant chord to me but it uses non-scale ...
user74879
3
votes
1
answer
216
views
what is the method behind naming jazz chords? [closed]
I have recently become confused about how to name chords in jazz.
This is my current understanding:
Add chords (without 7th)- chord that contains the root, third, (optional 5th) and one or more ...
- 793
3
votes
5
answers
992
views
Does melodic minor ever function as a key (or tonality) in of itself?
I am getting into jazz harmony, so have recently started learning chords derived from the modes of the melodic minor scale. As far as I can tell, these modes are primarily used for two main functions:
...
- 793
8
votes
4
answers
1k
views
When does a jazz tune actually modulate?
I am getting into Jazz harmonic analysis, and have watched a few analysis videos to start me off. I will be referring to the analysis that one youtuber (Justinguitarsongs) has made of the tune 'Misty',...
- 793
3
votes
1
answer
74
views
Cmajor11(#13) same as C(dominant)11?
I was learning about extension chords where I stumbled upon a question: if we play Cmajor11(sharp 13), wouldn't that have the note B flat which is supposed to be there in dominant chord? Shouldn't ...
- 31
1
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3
answers
273
views
Jazz walking bass for C to E7 (I to V7/vi)
I'm learning walking bass on the piano. All the walking bass guides I have say to play some approach tone on the last beat before a chord change.
If the progression were C to G you might play F# or Ab ...
- 59.5k
6
votes
2
answers
695
views
How do you explain this Db7 (functional harmony) in "There will never be another you"?
I'm analysing this Jazz Standard. And it's quite straightforward with some major and minor II-V cadences here and there yet there is a chord I don't know how to explain, and it is that Db7 indicated ...
- 501
6
votes
3
answers
816
views
What tone to play for an upper neighbor in jazz?
My question is about playing upper neighbors to embellish basic chord tone motion.
Lower neighbors like this...
...seem to pose no problems. Just use half steps below and the neighbor sounds like a ...
- 59.5k
7
votes
2
answers
333
views
Is the "Charlie Parker Cycle" described in this document a "traditional" method?
Cochrane, Arpeggio and Scale Resources - a guitar encyclopedia.
Charter 3, pages 30-2 give the description. In it Cochrane says:
As far as I’m aware, Charlie Parker never knowingly used ‘the Charlie ...
- 59.5k
9
votes
2
answers
2k
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Harmonizing the bebop major (diminished sixth) scale - Barry Harris
@JohnBelzaguy shared this link with me https://cochranemusic.com/barry-harris-6th-dim-scale-diminished.
It's about Barry Harris and the "diminished sixth" - Bebop major - scale.
But I'm ...
- 59.5k
0
votes
2
answers
156
views
Can you help me understand what I am doing with these arpeggios?
I have a song with a part that I am wanting to play arpeggios over with the guitar. But just using the actual chord tones sounds boring to me. So I have started with an arpeggio pattern on the first ...
- 103
6
votes
2
answers
498
views
Block chord style and appoggiaturas
I'm practicing block chord style using drop 2 voicing. I'm following the scale patterns in Mark Levine Jazz Piano Book, figure 19-8.
I'm using the tune All of Me for practical application.
In a ...
- 59.5k
3
votes
4
answers
672
views
How should this half-diminished seventh chord from "Christmas Time Is Here" be analyzed in terms of its harmonic function? [duplicate]
Hi everyone.
I'm working on an analysis of Christmas Time Is Here, which is in F major.
I'm trying to determine the best way to analyze the Bm7(♭5) chord circled in the image. I have 3 explanations ...
- 925
0
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3
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847
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Take 6: What chords are making this style so jazzy?
Unfortunately this question has been closed as off-topic:
What is this Chord Progression
But the arrangements from Take 6 sound very special and interesting to me: I couldn’t identify at “first sight” ...
- 26.1k
2
votes
2
answers
230
views
How do I describe this chord (A in bass with F# upper structure triad)?
I'm trying to expand my harmony (past the 7ths/9ths/sus4 which have served me fine for pop), and I constructed something funky. I never really got into chord vocab, so I don't know how to describe it ...
- 518
3
votes
1
answer
678
views
Jacob Collier "Hideaway" Analysis
can Someone please analyse/explain the chordal part of the lyrics
"Even when I close my eyes ,Darling i'll.... "
in the song 'Hideaway' by Jacob Collier's ?? The chords are as folllows:
...
2
votes
1
answer
289
views
Why harmonize major scale with sus chords?
I've started reading Mark Levine's The Jazz Theory Book, and I have a couple questions about how he harmonizes the major scale. (Let's not even get started on the melodic minor!)
First, I'm confused ...
- 121
4
votes
5
answers
569
views
Are rootless jazz chords truly rootless?
Comments about roots never being omitted in another question How to distinguish between a minor triad and a maj7 chord with same notes but without the root prompted this one.
This question Why ...
- 59.5k
2
votes
4
answers
759
views
IVm6 or IVm7? (in major)
(Note: using the key of C major as generic instead of roman numerals.)
Yesterday I was reading the book "Hearin' the Changes" (by Coker, Knapp and Vincent), which discusses Fm7-B♭7-C as an ...
- 598
11
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Jazz piano: chords and melody in right hand. How?
Aiming for being capable of playing solo and in ensemble, a jazz pianist is exposed to the following:
Bass player is playing the root tones, hence the pianist can play rootless
When playing alone or ...
- 979
1
vote
4
answers
227
views
Jazz piano: problem remembering harmony, melody is fine
In my quest to become a general jazz pianist I practice jazz standards. Having several years experience with violin, a melody instrument, I have no trouble learning and remembering melodies but the ...
- 979
1
vote
3
answers
414
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Question about Dave Brubeck/Paul Desmond Take Five
I’m trying to decode "Take Five" and so far I have (for my version) it in the key of F with one flat (B-Flat) and the initial phrase (A Section) is based on a D minor which is the natural minor 6th of ...
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votes
2
answers
257
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Isn't more comfortable to play Cmaj7 chord's root position 1245 instead of 1235 fingers on piano?
As I saw in Youtube and in various websites that Cmaj7 root fingering should be 1235, but for me it would look like more logical to play 1245. Because when I play on RH 1235, my wrist goes to left. ...
1
vote
1
answer
236
views
Writing down chord names and understanding their function in an example
I've been trying to learn more about music theory by transcribing songs. I am not bad at writing down the notes, but have a lot of trouble understanding the chords/harmony.
Below is a sketch of one ...
- 675
2
votes
2
answers
176
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How does reharm work in jazz
Ive heard a lot about reharminzation however i am kinda confused now because it appears as though you can basically reharmonize any note with a chord as long as the chord fits that note. Which i ...
- 127
3
votes
2
answers
257
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Advice for a budding musician trying to understand composition and music theory
So I have been producing music for around 2 years now, and am an avid listener to many genres of music. I have never been taught music or music theory, but used youtube to get a fundamental albeit ...
- 191
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Help with non-diatonic chords in All the Things You Are
The harmony for All the Things You Are seems mostly straightforward, but I'm stuck on a few bars struggling to see where the following non diatonic chords come from. The chords are: C+7 in bar 24, D♭...
- 131
1
vote
1
answer
186
views
Avoid Notes in scales [closed]
In my understanding, an 'avoid note' in the context of a scale is practically a particular note we should not play , for example during an improvisation, because of the clash (minor 9th interval) it ...
- 231
3
votes
1
answer
146
views
Chord Scale Voice leading question for guitarists
I've recently been practicing voice leading chord scales, trying to keep the bass note within a range of 2-3 frets, playing through all the diatonic 7th chords in a scale. So ill start off in say, ...
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Tritone substitution in minor, just change the root or change the chord quality too?
Recently I've been practicing rootless ii V i in minor jazz from Jerry Coker's Jazz Keyboard.
Here is the rootless chord chart...
Unless I missed something in the booklet, Coker doesn't ...
- 59.5k
1
vote
1
answer
630
views
Function of Minor sixth chords
What are the precise harmonic functions of the Minor sixth chord? I remember that I read somewhere that they play often the role of the I degree in a chord progression (like the often used 6/9 chord) ...
- 231
4
votes
5
answers
644
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Jazz Chords: How can a Bbmaj9 be explained in the key of A major?
I'm looking at the sheet music for the song Sometimes in Winter:
https://www.noteflight.com/marketplace/4V9yWpCsl2ktvMaaOd0Tgh/sometimes-in-winter
It appears this tune is in A Major. In the 3rd bar, ...
- 184
1
vote
3
answers
837
views
Shell voices - what does it mean?
I’ve tried to answer a question about voicings in Jazz. I was not sure if it was concerning a 4 part or unlimited part voicing.
Now I’ve seen that I’ve overlooked in the title of the question the ...
- 26.1k
1
vote
2
answers
83
views
Where is F7 in Elevation of Love by E.S.T. coming from?
I was looking at their official songbook. The key of the song is C minor. The progression goes Ab∆ (VI) C-7(I) Fsus4 (IV major???) F7 (IV dominant??) Ab∆.
The F in C minor is F-7, and F7 is neither ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
947
views
What is Pat Martino's Diminished Concept? [closed]
Is the basic principle of Pat Martino's Diminished Concept for chord construction anything more than simply altering diminished chords?
- 12.3k
4
votes
1
answer
231
views
What to improvise over "fake" ii V I and succession of dominant chords
I frequently see "incomplete" ii V I sequences in standards (like Satin Doll for example) where only the ii and the V are played and I'm always wondering what I can play there, since I find most of ...
- 193
4
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Goodbye Porkpie Hat - solo harmonic analysis
I have been untangling Goodbye Porkpie Hat, the original on Mingus Ah Um. The solo section has different chords to the head on this version. I have listened to the sax solo, and I am making notes, but ...
- 485