LearnJazzPiano.com archives: Slonimsky and his "master chords"

nokturn -- 09/13/2006, 06:28:12 -- #29796

Hi, I just got myself Slonimsky's Thesaurus and I just can't figure out how  the circled numbers indicate the master chords. The system's neither based on the circle of 5ths, nor on halftone-steps, nor on the corresponding scale degrees, or am I wrong? Either way, I'm out of ideas.

Scot -- 09/13/2006, 20:09:51 -- #29796

Look on the last page, or near it, of the book where there is a chart of master chords. The numbers appear to correspond to what set of chords to use for harmonizing.

nokturn -- 09/14/2006, 05:37:04 -- #29796

Found the master chords near the last page,- as you said -, in the chapter "Harmonization in major triads and seventh-chords", thanks for that. Nonetheless I am unable to figure out how the numbers correspond to the chords displayed.   Any idea? The whole book is quite a riddle for me.

Scot -- 09/15/2006, 11:59:15 -- #29796

Well, each master chord group near the end of the book has a circle with a number. So in an exercise if you see a circle with a number 1 in it, then go to the master chord page in the back of the book, find the exercise section you're working on (there appear to be three sections that have master chords for them) then select the master chords that correspond to the number. Basically I'm guessing that you play one of the chords for the exercise, then do it again with another chord. Or maybe harmonize each exercise note with a chord. I think there's a lot there for personal interpretation as far as how they are used.

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