Quartals

2. Play the following very rapidly in succession over Cm7

Bb F C

C G D

Eb Bb F

F C G

G D A

Bb F C

G D A

F C G

Eb Bb F

C G D

Bb F C

Immediately obvious to any casual observer is the fact
that all of the above notes fall into C dorian.

3. Another way to use quartals in a melodic sense is to utilize the "mega-scale" concept.
What if we had up a scale that was all made up of perfect 4ths???

How about this one:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here are some great comping ideas for quartals (mostly for keyboard):

1. Play different quartals in the right and left hands (using contrary motion when possible).
This gives a fuller chord texture and provides more harmonic interest.

example (in C):

Dm (ii minor) LH: 9 5 1 ( E A D ) RH: 11 b7 b3 ( G C F ) = 1 b3 5 b7 9 11
G7 (V7 domin) LH: 3 6 9 ( B E A ) RH: 9 5 1 ( A D G ) = 1 3 5 9 13
CMaj7 (Major7) LH: 6 9 5 ( A D G ) RH: 9 5 1 ( D G C ) = 1 5 6 9

2. Rootless chords in one hand - quartals in the other. Mix and match.

3. Subsitute quartals in the left hand instead of rootless chords.

4. If you don't have a bass player, play your standard walking bass in the left hand
and the appropriate quartals in the right.