Joe Pass Chords

[Jackie]

I have a query about the book Joe Pass Guitar Chords. I understand it is primarily an eartraining book and chords are not identified by name. The major chords are forms of Cmajor and can be used in place of any C majors. The seventh chords seem to be G sevenths. Should they be played in place of G or C sevenths?, Or are all the chords in the book to be used instead of the relevant C chord?

[merseybeat]

Hi, its actually a lot simpler than it seems! Your assumption is perfectly correct! However care must be taken when altering Major, Minor or Dominant! It all depends on what you are trying to achieve!
I use these examples to create a sense of movement over a static chord (or one that lasts for say a bar or more).

Eg a D7 chord can have a sweet movement of its own (This is a fairly simple example), D7 - D7#9 - D9 - D7b9 - D7



--------------------------------------------
----7---6---5---4---3----------------------
----5---5---5---5---5----------------------
----4---4---4---4---4----------------------
----5---5---5---5---5----------------------
--------------------------------------------



You have probably heard this a thousand times!

I dont consider 4 different chords here, to me they are all D7.

Remember though, care should always be taken not to clash with the main harmony (Except when you have the chair!)

Hope this helps

Eddie

[pierre richard]

I have enjoyed this book since I got it a few years ago...

after some time you should be able to construct some of your own..

time on the instrument...pierre

[fumblefingers]

if i remember correctly the book shows major sounds, minor sounds, dominant sounds etc. giving examples in concert key (the key of C) is simply a common pedagogical practice.

so you are supposed to interpret the harmonies functionally (that is, as I, II, V chords etc). Key is not important.

The purpose is to learn the "sounds" (i.e. voicings/grips) and them apply then to tunes in a functionally correct way.

does that make sense so far?

PS. I analyzed the voicings and jotted down the chord qualities in my copy of the book. Example G13, or G13b9 etc. You should do the same.