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Left hand strategies for slow progressions

what do folks do with the left hand when you run into a spot that sits on one chord for four or more measures? it always stumps me (nothing new there!). i�m talking about a standard of some kind (i should have an example but don�t). let�s say it opens with four bars of cmaj. do you simply play different inversions / voicings?

tia - scott

by sdm on 05/12/2005, 20:29

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for c maj7 for 4 bars i would pivot back and forth with the v7 (it can be a v7 b9, v7 alt  or v sus )
| c  | g7  | c  | g7  | (typical intro filler)
or
| c  | d-7/c  | c  | d-7/c  |

for two measure i might also do a

| c maj7 d-7 eb-7 | e-7   |
or
| cmaj7 d-7 eb-7 | e-7 d-7 cmaj7|

|c | a7 (b13) | d-7 | g7 (b9) |
or
| c | f7 | e7| a7 |

a standard thing to do for a v7 that lasts two bars is
|g7 (ab7) | g7   |

there are more!

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by Jazz+ on 05/12/2005, 22:02

yes, of course!! nothing says you can't add chords for color and still restrict the movement. duh! thanks +. damn i love this site.

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by sdm on 05/13/2005, 13:19

if the line allows it, you can sometimes play a diminshed suspension before resolving it - for example b over c (c b d# f#) resolving to a straight c chord when you're ready. in fact, pedalling on c while moving around through inverted major triads from diminished scales can buy quite a lot of time until the next change comes along.

sid

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by sid on 05/13/2005, 16:12

cool -- i'll try it (once i spend enough time to really understand what you said!). hmm, how do you finger c b d# f# -- can i play it b c d# f#? i'll play with the idea. thanks.

scott

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by sdm on 05/13/2005, 16:40

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by Jazz+ on 05/13/2005, 21:07

scott - i had a spare moment so i've made a rough and ready midi file of an elongated ii-v-i progression over which i've done some pedalling with triads, just to illustrate what i was trying to get at. it's in the grooves and licks room. let me know if it helps, or is just adding to the confusion!

sid

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by sid on 05/16/2005, 11:24

i've got it and have listened -- nice stuff. don't suppose you could give me clues to the progressions? not that it wouldn't be very good for me to figure them out on my own of course. thanks sid.

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by sdm on 05/16/2005, 11:42

jazz+:

a few more tunes off the top of my head where a chord lasts for 4 measures:
recordame
inner urge
this here
this i dig of you (although sometimes people play bbmaj7 and cmin7 over the f pedal)

intriguing question though. i like these kinds of questions

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by hepcatmonk on 05/16/2005, 19:24

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Left hand strategies for slow progressions

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by Jazz+ on 05/12/2005, 22:02

by sdm on 05/13/2005, 13:19

by sid on 05/13/2005, 16:12

by sdm on 05/13/2005, 16:40

by Jazz+ on 05/13/2005, 21:07

by sid on 05/16/2005, 11:24

by sdm on 05/16/2005, 11:42

by hepcatmonk on 05/16/2005, 19:24

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Left hand strategies for slow progressions

There are no comments, leave a comment.

by Jazz+ on 05/12/2005, 22:02

by sdm on 05/13/2005, 13:19

by sid on 05/13/2005, 16:12

by sdm on 05/13/2005, 16:40

by Jazz+ on 05/13/2005, 21:07

by sid on 05/16/2005, 11:24

by sdm on 05/16/2005, 11:42

by hepcatmonk on 05/16/2005, 19:24

Reply to Thread

Jazz Piano Notebook Series

"Latinesque"

LJP Jazz Piano Blogs

Most Recent Discussions

Articles

Top Sheetmusic Picks

Jazz piano education is cool.

Rock on. Follow your passion.

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