Re: Labelling Jazz Chords

"Steve Latham" <llatham@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote

> Should I, or Should I not, include extensions in the chord symbol if
they 
> are found in the melody?

As I see it, it's down to personal choice, you may want to write it in 
because when it comes to improvising the soloists may go miles away from
the 
melody and by keeping that note in the harmony you retain a hint of the 
original head. On the other hand you may want to do the opposite to help
the 
soloists get further away from the head.

> Additionally, is there any shortcut notation for a changing bass under a

> sustained chord?

Not that I know of.

> Suppose I have E9 to E9/G# - does anyone write " /G#" just to show the 
> bass motion, or do they typically put E9 E9/G#?

The latter.

> Finally, what's the standard for something like A/G? Is it better to put

> A7/G or will A/G cause people to not voice the 7th in the chord?

If what you are after is an A7 in fourth inversion I suggest you write
A7/G, 
although this does mean the G may also be voiced higher as well as in the 
bass. I say this primarily because of the inherent ambiguity of slash 
chords, to me A/G is a polychord of an A triad over a G triad, however
A7/G 
is (as above) an A7 in fourth inversion.


Fiona