Comments on: Jazz Piano Chords

By: Emmanuel

Emmanuel — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:01:41 +0000

I play Piano at a (Church of God in Christ) Church. or COGIC. And a lot of people have been asking be this question. Does the sound and the form of gospel piano come from Jazz and Blues. Even my self when I’m playing I Do hear similarity in Jazz Piano to my ear. In my church we use the blues very extensively. I play a lot of tri-tones diminished, blues scales, Arguments, 9ths 11ths 13ths and so on etc…

Even long ago before I started to play black gospel music. A gospel keyboardist asked me have I ever played Jazz before. So is this really true?

By: Erik Thiede

Erik Thiede — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:33:01 +0000

Right! Basic, cookie-cutter R&B may use elementary chords (the chords are not the focus of the music) but this page is about JAZZ chords; and professional jazz, blues, gospel, etc. players routinely use anything but basic 7th chords in root position.

Using mostly basic 7th chords in a Jazz setting will sound amateurish…and people will know!

You need to use extended chords, add altered toned (b9, #9, b5, #5, etc.) and do interesting chord progressions in-between the basic progressions to sound interesting in jazz…

i.e. Don’t just go straight from 1 to 4 in a 1-4-5 chord progression, play some interesting chords in-between that lead to the 4…etc.

By: Emmanuel

Emmanuel — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:18:50 +0000

I sort of disagree with that. I’m talking about the R&B/Hip Hop the R&B that is very Hip Hop driving, not the traditional Rhythm and Blues. There is a big difference between The Traditonal Jazzy Rhythm and Blues and the Hip Hop Version of R&B. Urban Music is what I’m talking about. Have you ever listen to Urban R&B? Here’s an example on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M8X0ivGuWE

You hear mostly just majors and minor chord progressions and melodies.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:24:50 +0000

This is somewhat true when you talk about melodies…but in order to get nice sounding chords, you need to move beyond what classical training gives you. Using simple 7th chords in their root position just is not appropriate for contemporary music (e.g. jazz, r&b, gospel, etc)…It’s all about the chord voicings (how you create the chord)…

By: Emmanuel

Emmanuel — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:54:32 +0000

Disregard about piano lessons regarding about Contemporary R&B. Pretty much todays Hip Hop/R&B/Pop music uses the Ionian & Aeolian scales. simply means just your regular majors and minors. Like most R&B uses maj7 Min7 chords and some times 6th’s.

Hopes this answer the Subject to anyone. any piano lesson will teach you your majors and minors.

By: Phuong Nguen

Phuong Nguen — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:43:38 +0000

I want to know more about great jazz musicus of early era. Specially music noblation and ear stick technik, chopping and vairay mograps.

By: Emmanuel

Emmanuel — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:24:46 +0000

Hi I had a question about R&B Music. What did it Originated from. What type of Piano Lessons do I need to take in order to producer todays urban contemporary R&B Music like Brandy, Mariah Carey, Chis Brown, Neyo and so forth…