Take the Mystery Out of Jazz Harmony

Jazz harmony is often considered one of the most complex and challenging aspects of jazz music. However, with the right approach, it can be understood and mastered by musicians of all levels. In this comprehensive guide, we'll take a deep dive into the fundamentals of jazz harmony, exploring the essential concepts and techniques that make jazz music so unique and mesmerizing.

Jazz Keyboard Harmony: Take the Mystery Out of Jazz Harmony

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Language	:	English
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The Basics of Jazz Harmony

Jazz harmony is built on the foundation of Western classical harmony, but with a few key differences. First, jazz musicians tend to use more extended chords, which contain more than three notes. Second, they often alter the chords by adding or subtracting notes, creating a wider range of harmonic possibilities. Third, jazz progressions are often more complex and unpredictable, with frequent use of chromaticism and modulation.

Scales

The first step to understanding jazz harmony is to become familiar with the scales that are commonly used in jazz. These scales include the major scale, the minor scale, the dominant scale, and the altered scale. Each of these scales has a unique sound and can be used to create a variety of chords.

Chords

Chords are the building blocks of harmony. In jazz, chords are typically constructed using triads, which are three-note chords. The most common types of triads are the major triad, the minor triad, and the diminished triad. Extended chords are created by adding additional notes to a triad, such as the seventh, ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth.

Progressions

Chord progressions are sequences of chords that are played in succession. Chord progressions can be used to create a sense of movement and tension within a piece of music. Jazz musicians often use complex chord progressions that incorporate chromaticism and modulation.

Essential Concepts and Techniques

In addition to the basics of jazz harmony, there are a number of essential concepts and techniques that are used by jazz musicians. These include:

Voicings

Voicings refer to the way that chords are arranged and played on the instrument. Different voicings can create different sounds and harmonic effects. Jazz musicians often use complex voicings that involve extended chords and altered notes.

Improvisation

Improvisation is a key element of jazz music. Jazz musicians often improvise solos over chord progressions, using their knowledge of scales, chords, and harmony to create spontaneous and creative melodies.

Substitutions

Substitutions are a technique used by jazz musicians to create harmonic variety. Substitutions involve replacing one chord with another chord that has a similar sound or function. This technique can be used to add interest and complexity to chord progressions.

Exploring Jazz Standards

One of the best ways to learn about jazz harmony is to study jazz standards. Jazz standards are classic jazz tunes that have been played and recorded by generations of musicians. By studying the harmony of jazz standards, you can learn about the techniques and approaches that have been used by some of the greatest jazz musicians in history.

Bebop

Bebop is a style of jazz that emerged in the 1940s. Bebop is characterized by its fast tempo, complex chord progressions, and extensive use of improvisation. Bebop musicians often used extended chords and altered notes to create a more dissonant and challenging sound.

Modal Jazz

Modal jazz is a style of jazz that emerged in the 1950s. Modal jazz is characterized by its use of scales and modes, rather than chords. Modal jazz musicians often use simple chord progressions that are based on a single scale or mode.

Extended Chords and Altered Chords

Extended chords and altered chords are two of the most important harmonic techniques used in jazz music. Extended chords are chords that contain more than three notes, such as the seventh chord, ninth chord, eleventh chord, and thirteenth chord. Altered chords are chords that have been modified by adding or subtracting notes, such as the flat ninth chord, the sharp eleventh chord, and the suspended fourth chord.

Jazz harmony is a vast and complex subject, but with the right approach, it can be understood and mastered by musicians of all levels. By studying the basics of jazz harmony, exploring jazz standards, and applying essential concepts and techniques, you can unlock the secrets of jazz harmony and take your playing to the next level.

Jazz Keyboard Harmony: Take the Mystery Out of Jazz Harmony

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5971 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	95 pages

FREE