Lightbulb moment - vi and I6 - same thing

[Badge]

I am working on my ii V Is through the drop 2 and drop 3 inversions across the string sets. Trying to ingrain them in my DNA. I generally practice the Maj7 to Maj6 resolution in the Is.

Then I thought I would drop in some I vi ii V Is.

I had a lightbulb moment when it occurred to me that diatonic vi is the same as I Maj6!

Doh!

Are there some other obvious dots that can be joined that I should know about ?

[m78w]

Yeah that's a great way to double your chord vocabulary! So is using the iiim7 for Imaj9

Em7 = Cmaj7 no root

cool way to now triple your chord voicings.

If you see Cmaj7 you can play Cmaj7, Em7 or Am7.

[calder9@in.com.au]

Am7 --- A-C-E-G can be used for C6 C-E-G-A
Am7 ---- A-C-E-G - “- “- “- “-------- Fmaj9 (no root) (F)-A-C-E-G
Am7b5 --A-C-Eb-G -------------------F9 (no root) (F)-A-C-Eb-G
Am7b5 -A-C-Eb-G------------------- Cm6 C-Eb-G-A
Am6 -----A-C-E-F# -------------------D9 (no root) (D)-F#-A-C-E
Am6 ----A-C-E-F# ----------------F#m7b5 F#-A-C-E
Adim---- A-C-Eb-Gb ------------------D7b9 (no root) (D)-F#-A-C-Eb

[=DK=]

If you liked that, you'll love this book "Mel Bay's Complete Book of Harmony, Theory and Voicing", by Bret Willmott. It goes into a crazy amount of detail.

[matt.guitarteacher]

Here's one I find particularly helpful:

m6 chords are first inversion m7b5's. Cm6= am7b5/C.

That one really helps me with chord melody since m7b5 chords (especially with chord melody extensions) can be awkward.

[JonnyPac]

"So What" voicings are incredibly reusable as well. I recomend adding them to any chord vocabulary. Here's a link:

Jazz Piano Style Guitar Voicings in Music Theory, Guitar Lessons and Song Writing Tools Forum

[AlohaJoe]

As Matt pointed out, Cm6= Am7b5/C. It also = rootless F9 and all the respective scales and arpeggios are interchangeable.