This perspective also works for Dominant Chords.
Lets use the G Dominant Chords - using four note chords
G7th = R, 3rd, 5th, b7th G, B, D, F - two chords lie within the G7th chord:
G, B, D = G major and B, D, F = B diminished.
(So the Bass player could play the G note, the keyboard could play G major chord (G, B, D) and the guitar could play B diminished (B, D, F) across the neck to solo or make melodies arpeggio style).
Now lets look at other dominant chords and apply the polytonal approach:
G dominant 9th = R, 3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th G, B, D, F, A
G, B, D = G major and D, F, A = D minor
G dominant 11th = R, 3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th, 11th G, B, D, F, A, C
G, B, D = G major and D, F, A = D minor
G dominant 13th = R, 3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th, 11th, 13th G, B, D, F, A, C, E
G, B, D, F = G seventh and F, A, C, E = F major seventh
This also works for altered dominant chords:
G dominant 7th/b9 = R, 3rd, 5th, b7th, b9th G, B, D, F, Ab
G, B, D, F = G seventh and D, F, Ab = D diminished.
G dominant 7th/#9 = R, 3rd, 5th, b7th, #9th G, B, D, F, A#
G, B, D, F = G seventh and D, F, A#(Bb) = Bb major.
G dominant 7th/b5 = R, 3rd, b5th, b7th, G, B, Db, F,
G, B, Db = G#11 and B, Db, F, = Db (C#) seventh.
G dominant 7th/#5 = R, 3rd, #5th, b7th, G, B, D#, F,
G, B, D# = G#5 and B, D#, F, = B#11.
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.
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
