altered tones - top voices

rafapak · #1 07-12-2011, 04:00 AM

hi guys

I know little about jazz harmony but please let me know if I am wrong on this. I suppose that usually altered notes are played in top voices of the chord voicing. If this is true I probably should concentrate on learning dominant chord voicings with root and fifth in the upper voices. If there is root in the upper voices, all I have to do in order to make this note lowered or raised ninth is to move my finger one semitone or three semitones to the right from the root. Similiarly, when there is a fifth in an upper voice I can easily achieve altered tones by lowering of rising this fifth. My friend usually says that with voicings with third and seventh in the bass you can do everything. This means that voicings just mentioned have roots and fifths in upper voices and therefore it is easier to achieve altered tones in this way. Please, let me know is my thinking is correct or not.

regards
rafal

gingerjazz · #2 07-12-2011, 05:55 AM

Hi rafapak,although i found you post a little unclear i will try to clarify.You are correct about raising the fifth etc to get the sharp five.This is a common way that people like to look at chords.It is easier to make an adjustment to something you allready know than to learn a new shape altogether,the same is true with scales.You are also correct in that if you raise the root you will get a flat nine chord ,but a rootless voicing but thats fine as the bass players usually got that covered.From what i can gather i think you need to do some study on inversions and chord theory its not that difficult to learn and will helpyou agreat deal with constructing chords.I hope this is what you were asking for as i wasnt too sure.Peace.

princeplanet · #3 07-12-2011, 06:30 AM

Try learning drop 2 inversions. It easy to raise or lower the roots or 5th i all the inversions, although some are harder to play than others...

bako · #4 07-12-2011, 07:40 AM

The 5th can be altered in any voice.
The root can be raised to b9, 9 and #9 but has a few issues.
When it is the bottom voice and the range is too low the 9th's confuse the issue of the root. It can still be used in passing to the root or 3rd.
In middle and upper range it is fine but the #9 can cause a problem forming a b9 interval with 3rd in the upper voice.
Again it still can be used in passing down to 9 or b9. Arpeggiation is another way to bring together notes that cause a problem as a solid chord.

rafapak · #5 07-12-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bako

The 5th can be altered in any voice.
The root can be raised to b9, 9 and #9 but has a few issues.
When it is the bottom voice and the range is too low the 9th's confuse the issue of the root. It can still be used in passing to the root or 3rd.
In middle and upper range it is fine but the #9 can cause a problem forming a b9 interval with 3rd in the upper voice.
Again it still can be used in passing down to 9 or b9. Arpeggiation is another way to bring together notes that cause a problem as a solid chord.

Bako wrote about stuff I had in mind.