Re: Labelling Jazz Chords

Joey Goldstein wrote:
> Tom K. wrote:
>> "Joey Goldstein" <nospam@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
>> news:fsc2dm$jch$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> There is also a type of chord symbol notation that specifies the top 
>>> note of the voicing with an alternate note head (x or diamond, etc.). 
>>> Maybe that's what you want. But the voicing and execution is still up 
>>> to the player.
>>>
>>
>> Joey, this sounds interesting - is it primarily for guitar?  
> 
> It's for any chordal instrument.
> 
>> And can you post any examples?
> 
> Sorry no.
> My explanation was fairly straight ahead though, no?
> 
> Sometimes the alternate note heads will be accompanied with some text 
> like "Top Note of Voicing" too.

Obviously, notating things this way also involves specifying a rhythm as 
well as the top note of the voicing.

If you want the player to still make his own rhythmic choices then it 
can be a little bit trickier.
Sometimes I've seen rhythm slashes with note alternate note heads on 
top, to contrast with regular looking note stems with alternate note 
heads on top.
Sometimes the note heads will be written without stems or slashes in a 
rhythm that doesn't make sense so it can't be taken literally, like 2 
whole notes (in 4/4) representing the top note of two different chords.

Or you can write out standard alt note heads with standard note stems 
and just say "top note of voicing only, don't worry about rhythm".

Check any good jazz arranging book and these types of notational 
conventions should be covered.

Quite often, when voicing chords, the top note will determine much of 
the character and the intervallic possibilities of the chord.

For example: If the chord symbol says Dm7 and the top note is specified 
as F, then it is less likely that that player will decide to add a maj 
9th to the chord, because he's have to place the 9th below the b3rd and 
that will create a b9 interval or a b2 interval.
D (A) C E F (E-F forms a b2)
D E (A) C F (E-F forms a b9)

Etc.

-- 
Joey Goldstein
<http://www.joeygoldstein.com>
<http://homepage.mac.com/josephgoldstein/AudioClips/audio.htm>
joegold AT sympatico DOT ca