I've developed a simple style where I play a single root note with the left hand or maybe a add a fifth, and then play the rest of a chord in the right usually with the lowest note the third, but using in inversions when voice leading and economy goes that way.
So using that scheme, I've managed to play 4 note 7th chords pretty easily and add 9th pretty easily and sus2 and sus 4 and 6/9
but now I'm getting into fuller, richer arrangements with more extended chords that really only sound right (or follow the melody) when the 11ths or 13ths are the highest note played.
So do I just move up the chord and play from the 5th or 7th?
I understand that the 3rd and 7th are the notes that really make a given chord a chord, but a 3rd way at the top of a chord tends to overwhelm or clash with the exye=tended color notes.
I guess my question is how to 'real' keyboardists handle extended chords.
extended keyboard chords
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- KVRAF
- 2217 posts since 15 Jul, 2003
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- KVRist
- 227 posts since 10 Aug, 2006 from europe
I don't really get where you are going, but you can usally leave out the 5th, and even the root isn't all that important.
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- KVRAF
- 7837 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
It really depends on the arrangement. I agree leaving the 5th out is a good common idea. If you are playing with others especially a rhythm guitarists you need to work out voicings in concert. Also as much as I love extended chords you really have to be careful with melody. If you've got a singer or a soloist operating in the same range it can get very harsh very quick.
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- KVRist
- 211 posts since 28 Apr, 2009 from Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Short answer would be "Yes."
Long answer would be I don't really care too much about the extended notes that are being played. As long as I like the sound of what I'm hearing, I'm good.
I don't try to play big altered chords much anymore due to the clash of sounds you are describing. However, if you play a chord in the left hand and a descending melody in the right hand, the third of the chord is a very good place to end your line. I usually play small chords in the right hand and move them through the appropriate scale. It's simple and I get lots of interesting sounds.
Go to YouTube and watch some videos of Barry Harris playing for examples of the kind of thing I'm talking about. He's a real keyboard player.
Long answer would be I don't really care too much about the extended notes that are being played. As long as I like the sound of what I'm hearing, I'm good.
I don't try to play big altered chords much anymore due to the clash of sounds you are describing. However, if you play a chord in the left hand and a descending melody in the right hand, the third of the chord is a very good place to end your line. I usually play small chords in the right hand and move them through the appropriate scale. It's simple and I get lots of interesting sounds.
Go to YouTube and watch some videos of Barry Harris playing for examples of the kind of thing I'm talking about. He's a real keyboard player.
Drugs and alcohol have never helped me creatively, but for others it seems to be an essential part of the process. 