Avoid note?

[Unoalpha]

I'm Begining to work more on Harmony and things like that with extended chords but I'm a little confused on one thing. You see, I read the lesson about Tension and avoid notes here and I understood it well for the most part.
Lets say I'm making a Cmaj9 chord
The notes I could use are C,E,G,B,D
Would the B note be considered an avoid note?
Thanks in advance!

[max chill]

B is the major 7, which makes it a Cmaj9 and not a C9.

[bako]

Play it and listen to it. Learn the sound. In this case the major 7th is a chord tone.
Knowing the sounds of the intervals empowers you to decide what to avoid,
based on the context, your personal taste and not just a textbook rule.

[JensL]

The simple version would be that the avoid notes are a half step above a chord note so F is an avoid note because it clashes with E.

Jens

[coleman]

i don't like the term avoid notes i like to think of weak notes and strong notes.

[sc06yl]

Originally Posted by coleman

i don't like the term avoid notes i like to think of weak notes and strong notes.

Thats the way Mark Levine and every jazz theory prof I have had has said. There is no doubt though, if you hit and hold with frequency 4ths on major chords people who you are playing for will likely figure you are either a complete idiot or just crazy...

I don't avoid the 4th on a major chord, its like an ugly girlfriend, you just don't take it out and show it off, but you still use it...

[JohnRoss]

Originally Posted by Unoalpha

Lets say I'm making a Cmaj9 chord
The notes I could use are C,E,G,B,D
Would the B note be considered an avoid note?

Chord tones are never 'avoid' notes, it would be a contradiction in terms.

[bako]

The accompaniment style makes a big difference. Look at the contrast between a hammond organ holding a C chord sustained for 8 measure with E notes in 5 octaves vs. walking bass with short 8th note chordal stabs. In the 2nd case F is a fully usable melodic note and in the 1st I would stick to the weak side of the rhythm. If I choose to linger on an F note then I assume the band will adjust and respond.

[Reg]

I'm not sure where you were making reference to for info... but generally, avoid notes, and the general guide of notes a half step above chord tones as compared to a whole step all come from arranging techniques... and old ones at that. For the last 20 years... as far as contemporary guide lines... there gone... But they do require a little skill using. As was mentioned, where and how you use them and as always with just about anything the context are as important as the actual use. In jazz there are always rhythmic accent patterns,(the feel or groove) and harmonic rhythm,(the harmonic pulse or rhythmic strong / weak pattern of harmony), that are usually your reference as to how and where you improvise, which may include use of the so called avoid notes... there is obviously many more levels of understanding but that is a good start... If it starts to make since to you... ask, and I go as deep as you want. Reg

[klezmando]

I don't avoid the 4th on a major chord, its like an ugly girlfriend, you just don't take it out and show it off, but you still use it...[/quote]

Please don't use sexist language in describing music.