In this episode of the Confident Improviser podcast, we're going to dive into rootless chord voicings. Specifically, I'm going to teach you how to form the three most popular rootless chords: major seventh, minor seventh, and dominant seventh chords. But first, let's talk about what a rootless chord voicing is and why it's important.
A rootless chord voicing removes the root note from the chord and replaces it with a different note, typically the ninth. This gives the chord a more sophisticated and full sound. When playing a regular block chord, the root, third, fifth, and seventh notes are played. However, when playing a rootless chord voicing, the root note is removed, and the remaining notes are shifted up to fill the space.
Now, let's dive into how to form the three most popular rootless chords. There are three methods that you can use to form these chords: starting with guide tones, moving up to the ninth and adjusting, and relating back to other block chords.
For the major seventh chord, you can start with the guide tones, which are the third and seventh notes of the chord, and then add the fifth and ninth notes. Another method is to move up to the ninth note and build a minor seventh chord there.
To form a minor seventh chord, you can start with the guide tones, which are the third and seventh notes of the chord, and then add the fifth and ninth notes.
And finally, to form a dominant seventh chord, you can start with the guide tones, which are the third and seventh notes of the chord, and then add the flat seventh and ninth notes.
Practicing away from the piano can also help you develop your skills with rootless chord voicings. One way to do this is by listening to music and trying to identify when rootless chord voicings are being used. You can also try to sing or hum the guide tones of a chord progression to help reinforce them in your mind.
By understanding rootless chord voicings and how to form them, you can add a new level of sophistication and fullness to your playing. So try out these methods and see how they work for you. And don't forget to download the sheet music for today's lesson, whether you're a member of Jazzedge or not. Thanks for tuning in, and I'll see you in the next episode.
