Another way to view large or complex chords is to break them down into two smaller chords.
This is advantages when in a band situation you give each player a different part of the chord to play.
First lets go back to the C Major Family of Chords - using four note chords (every other note in a group of four notes)
C major 7th = R, 3rd, 5th, 7th C, E, G, B two chords lie within the C major 7th chord.
C, E, G = C major and E, G, B = E minor.
(So the Bass player could play the C note, the keyboard could play C major chord (C, E, G) and the guitar could play E minor (E, G, B) across the neck or as solo or a melody played arpeggio style).
D minor 7th = R, b3rd, 5th, b7th D, F, A, C
D, F, A = D minor and F, A, C = F major
E minor 7th = R, b3rd, 5th, b7th E, G, B, D
E, G, B = E minor and G, B, D = G major
F major 7th = R, 3rd, 5th, 7th F, A, C, E
F, A, C = F major and A, C, E = A minor.
G dominant 7th = R, 3rd, 5th, b7th G, B, D, F
G, B, D = G major and B, D, F = B diminished.
A minor 7th = R, b3rd, 5th, b7th A, C, E, G
A, C, E = A minor and C, E, G = C major
B minor 7th b5th = R, b3rd, b5th, b7th B, D, F, A
B, D, F = B diminished and D, F, A = D minor
Assignment: Record each of these chords - using quarter note strums for five to ten minutes. Then using quarter then eighth notes on another track or with a friend play the first, then second polytonal chord up and back arpeggio style. Later combine the scale (major) with the arpeggio for more interesting sounds.
Now transpose these to each position (register) of your instrument, then to all 15 keys.
All materials copyright 2010. For personal use only.
Vince Lauria Sun and Earth Music
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