Questions tagged [jazz]
An original American music style that originated in the early 20th century by improvisation and syncopation.
421
questions
-3
votes
0answers
32 views
Hear out a chord for me
I'm failing at hearing out the chord of this 50s jazz tune at around 6-7 seconds:
Could you help me out here?
3
votes
5answers
523 views
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, ...
2
votes
0answers
49 views
Is there a standard way of singing over ii-V-I in jazz?
I am new to music theory especially jazz and blues. I have since learned about writing lyrics or singing over a traditional 12 bar blues progression using AAB form, thus repeating the first line (A) ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
What does “Med.” as a style mean in jazz fake books?
I imagine it stands for "medium", but is it a tempo indication or does it mean something else/more? For example, how does (Med. Bossa Nova) differ from (Bossa Nova)? Some pieces also only have (Med.).
...
0
votes
0answers
13 views
Song identification help, Big band tune [migrated]
Had this stuck in me head for a couple of days now and it's really bothering me.
Can you help identify it?
I seem to remeber it starts with a bari or trombone maybe with a snare rim click in the ...
2
votes
1answer
42 views
Does Key changes of different intervals have different effects?
Condisering Key Changes :
Does Key changes of different intervals produce different effects on the Audience similar to intervals?
Does Key changes have different quality to them and if so what are ...
1
vote
3answers
78 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 ...
3
votes
4answers
87 views
Why can some 5ths be replaced with 6ths in an extended chord, but not all?
I want to get more comfortable playing a wider variety of chords voicings, so recently I've been playing around with lots of different chord progressions in my warmups. A pianist I like put out a ...
2
votes
1answer
41 views
Attempt to make Jazz chord progression on 7-Limit tuning
This is a sequel to this question. Refer to it for the just ratio of the tones.
Being septimal, I thought it could be used for Jazz. The chord progression I made is (Based on C):
CM7 - F♯ø7 - FM7 - ...
3
votes
2answers
142 views
Jazz standards books after Real Book Vol 1
The only jazz standards book I own is the cliched Real Book 6th Edition Vol 1. I'm going to fix that soon by getting another book or three, but I'm not sure whether there are other comprehensive jazz ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
books/articles/dissertations/etc about odd time meters history/theory? [closed]
I'm working on my graduate thesis in jazz drumming. I chose odd time signatures as the main feature of my work, so i'm looking for some sources from which i can pick up some concepts and draw some ...
0
votes
4answers
99 views
what tricks are there to learn chord extensions without having to think in numbers?
I am sure that when playing jazz chords which have extentions there are ways to cut down on thinking time in "live" situations. Having to play #11 on a chord and thinking ...where is root, count up 4 ...
2
votes
2answers
108 views
How to get fluent at comping voicings in real time?
I would like to know if there is a reasonable and useful practise strategy to learn how to accompany on the piano with just lead sheets with chord symbols?
The ability to comp chords "live" along ...
5
votes
4answers
192 views
ii-V-I versus I-IV-V
The I-IV-V progression is used in a lot of blues, rock, folk, country and pop music, while jazz music tends to favor the ii-V-I.
I am aware that the ii and IV chords are both subdominant and they ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
What scales/modes are used in Just the way you are by Billy Joel? [closed]
I'm a hobbyist and I only know intermediate music theory. I am currently finding my way around with jazz.
Could someone please tell me what scales or modes are/can be used in the Just the way you are?...
2
votes
2answers
111 views
Jazz piano: improving voicings
I run into these two problems related to chords:
My accompany with my left hand conflicts/try to occupy the same tones as my right hand, melody.
My voicings are boring and dull. Very standardised and ...
7
votes
1answer
186 views
How does a minor major seventh chord have tonic function when it's so unstable?
In a minor key, the chord built on the tonic can be a minor sixth or a minor major seventh chord, both of which are supposed to have tonic function. To my ear, the minor sixth chord can feel like "...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
What to expect in a jazz audition
Context:
In my city, the government is going to open a music school for free. In two weeks they going to make auditions for the jazz class for beginners, intermediate and advanced players. I play the ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
Is Mikrokosmos technical enough?
I'm an aspiring Jazz piano beginner but decided to quit using Czerny and Hanon for obvious reasons-hanon especially, because it might ruin my touch, and particularly because nearly everyone in my ...
5
votes
1answer
117 views
Has Bela Bartok influenced Jazz tremendously?
Bela Bartok rediscovered Modal scales from eastern Europe. Lydian, Phrygian, etc...
What I was wondering was.... was it the first time that these scales were rediscovered and went into mainstream ...
1
vote
4answers
201 views
Is it acceptable to use a Maj7♯5sus4 chord? Avoid note/interval clarification
I have been looking through possible triads over bass notes and found an odd one.. F minor triad over B bass note. I rearranged the notes to give me a particular 7th chord 1 4 ♯5 7. Basically a ...
5
votes
1answer
307 views
Meaning of slash chord without anything left of the slash
In chord charts what does it mean when it says /c#. I know what slash chords are, but what if it doesn't show the first part. An example of what I'm talking about is here.
2
votes
3answers
101 views
Meaning of one chord on top of another
What does it mean when there are two chords one on top of the other in a chord chart. An example of what I'm talking about is here.
1
vote
2answers
57 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 ...
4
votes
3answers
230 views
How do I teach myself guitar (as a high level pianist)?
I'm pre-noting this with my background as I understand it is easy to see why this could be a repeat question and I do not want to do this. I have an extensive background in music theory, I've taught ...
11
votes
4answers
1k views
Keeping track of theme when improvising
Improvisations in jazz is done over the song itself, typically. However, I don’t hear the theme in plenty of recordings, the harmonies and solo are so far away that I can’t see the connection to the ...
0
votes
3answers
190 views
What are “Benson Chords”?
George Benson was a jazz guitarist well before he became known as mainly an R&B vocalist and guitarist. His guitar playing style incorporates distinctive chords sometimes called "Benson Chords" ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
How does Pat Martino's Minor Concept relate to his Diminished Concept?
How does Pat Martino's Minor Concept relate to his Diminished Concept? Are they completely unrelated or are melodic minor scales and diminished chords related in some way?
0
votes
1answer
101 views
How do you construct triad superimpositions in the style of Steve Khan? [closed]
Steve Khan had a theory of triad superimposition and substitution he called Contemporary Chord Khancepts. How do you construct triad superimpositions in the style of Steve Khan?
-3
votes
1answer
217 views
What is Pat Martino's Minor Conversion Concept? [closed]
Is the basic principle of Pat Martino's Minor Conversion Concept anything more than simply altering melodic minor scales?
1
vote
1answer
139 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?
1
vote
2answers
89 views
Jazz: Getting a feel for chords/harmonies
I have played the violin for several years so I have fundamental knowledge in some areas, however chords are currently opaque. For instance, I can play the melody line for any jazz standard by ear ...
2
votes
1answer
102 views
Jazz piano: accompanying oneself
My goal is to be able to by ear play a jazz standard, with improv sections.
When keeping an accompaniment in my left hand (say, a walking base or similar) while soloing with my right, then I stall. ...
10
votes
3answers
570 views
Giant Steps - Coltrane and Slonimsky
I've read several times that John Coltrane practiced extensively from the Slonimsky
Thesaurus of scales and melodic patterns and that Coltrane's Giant Steps is strongly influenced by or is even a ...
5
votes
2answers
57 views
Question concerning the integration of jazz solos into the rest of the ensemble
I am a relatively new jazz player. I do know a sizable amount of theory, though. My question was if there were any tips and advice you could give me concerning if and how soloists try to adjust their ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
How to make jazz covers? [closed]
I'm pretty new to the genre of jazz and would love to arrange some popular songs as jazz covers.
One that I really like is this one:
Sadly you can't see so easy ...
2
votes
0answers
91 views
What is the best book on Jazz Harmony? [closed]
I would like suggestions for good books on Jazz Harmony that are easy to understand, thorough and have readily applicable principles for compositions. Thanks.
6
votes
3answers
692 views
Are modes in jazz primarily a melody thing?
I was wondering when jazz cats talk about how they'd use a Lydian scale to improvise over a major chord, or a Dorian scale to improvise over a minor chord they're mainly talking about the melody? So ...
12
votes
4answers
3k views
A♭ major 9th chord in Bach is unexpectedly dissonant/jazzy
Measures 21-24 in Prelude VII from Bach's Well Tempered Clavier I
I was looking at the Prelude VII by Bach and noticed that on the measure 23 Bach ended that phrase with a A♭ maj9 chord. I was ...
4
votes
1answer
104 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
96 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Thoughtfully Voicing Chords
I've begun to experiment with arranging for jazz big band. Something I don't quite understand is how to thoughtfully voice chords.
I understand generally how instruments should be voiced in a chord. ...
4
votes
2answers
327 views
Improvising over quartal voicings
One particular jazz piano technique is to voice chords using quartal voicings. A quartal voicing is a chord built on fourths. For example, one might voice Cmin with the notes (in ascending order) F-B♭-...
2
votes
2answers
133 views
What is chord melody?
I've heard the term "chord melody" used by a jazz player acquaintance of mine, but I'm not really certain what he is describing or how it works. Would someone please give me a definition in easy to ...
2
votes
1answer
205 views
What was Art Tatum's practice routine?
Did he do exercises, or just work on repertoire and improvisation? Are there any anecdotes that may shed light on Tatum's routine?
4
votes
3answers
882 views
Do jazz musicians improvise on the parent scale in addition to the chord-scales?
I noticed that jazz musicians improvise on actual chords. This makes sense for modal jazz since the chords in the progression might not be related.
But for tonal jazz, say we have a "ii-V-I" ...
2
votes
3answers
153 views
Whole-step technique for figuring out jazz scales?
I was watching a tutorial on how this guy finds scales to play on top of jazz chords. And I was wondering if this a good method to use, and if not how do I know which scales to improvise on chords. Do ...
0
votes
3answers
72 views
Do seventh chords add vocal pitches not found in triads? [closed]
I was wondering what is it about seventh notes...
Fmaj7 Tall and tanned and young and lovely G7 The girl from ipanema
goes walking
&...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Jazz greats knew nothing of modes. Why are they used to improvise on standards?
My understanding is before 1970, few Jazz players thought about modes. For certain, Charlie Parker, Colman Hawkins, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, Monk, etc never thought in modes.
Barry Harris shows how ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
How does modal jazz use chord progressions?
I read that jazz uses the chord progression "ii V I" alot. But another thing I heard is that modal jazz doesn't think in chord functions instead it uses modes. Which made me confused.
Does that mean ...
