MKT JAZZ

Test and Assignments Feedback

The instructor acknowledges students' satisfaction with their test and assignment scores. They emphasize the importance of mastering music theory, encouraging students to learn the concepts thoroughly. The theory is presented as a crucial foundational aspect of music that should be internalized by students.

Music Theory Fundamentals

Musical Symbols and Basics

The instructor explains some key symbols used in music theory:

  • The triangle (Δ) represents major chords.

  • The minus sign (-) indicates minor chords.

  • Any number alone typically refers to a dominant chord, particularly in the context of seventh, ninth, eleventh, or thirteenth chords.
    For example, a dominant chord can be represented as either a seventh or a ninth, extending up to thirteenth qualities.

Types of Chords and Extensions

  • Chords Identified: Major, minor, and dominant chords.

  • Chord Creation: Students learn how to construct minor and major chords based on triads. Jazz chords incorporate an additional note, typically the seventh.

  • Extensions explained: Jazz harmony may extend beyond the basic seventh to include ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth notes. This leads to a discussion about fully extended chords.

Interval Structure and Chord Quality

  • The instructor discusses the importance of interval structure:

    • A major third interval results in a major chord.

    • A minor third interval results in a minor chord.

  • Recognizing the sound of the intervals is fundamental in correctly identifying chord qualities.

  • Understanding how every chord functions in context is crucial for application in actual play situations.

Context and Functionality of Chords

Chord Functioning and Context

  • The instructor emphasizes the significance of context when identifying the function of chords within progressions. For example, a chord that appears to be a dominant may not always function as a dominant chord in the progression.

  • Important Questions to Consider:

    • How is the chord functioning?

    • Is it serving as the dominant (5th chord) or in a different capacity (such as a flattened seventh in a rebellious context)?

Common Practices in Naming and Voicing Chords

  • The instructor reinforces how jazz chords operate mainly from the triad structure while adding relevant extensions.

  • Rootless Voicings: Students are introduced to the concept of voicing chords without the root played directly, influencing the harmony.

Fully Extended Chords

Structure of Fully Extended Chords

  • Example of Fully Extended Major Chord:

    • C major chord extended can comprise: C (root), E (third), G (fifth), B (seventh), D (ninth), F (eleventh), and A (thirteenth).

  • A crucial caveat when forming such chords relates to the overtone series and the preference to avoid dissonance in diatonic harmony, leading musicians to raise certain notes like the fourth (or eleventh) in jazz contexts.

Naming Conventions for Chords

  • In naming chords, students are instructed to use the highest extension that remains unaltered to maintain clarity. For example, C major with an F# (indicating the sharp eleventh) should be denoted as CΔ11 (sharp).

  • The assumption arises that when naming chords like 'C9,' it includes the seventh and second degree.

The Role of Tension and Release in Harmony

  • An exploration of tension and release within chord progressions indicates how dominant chords serve to heighten tension. Effective tension and release create the drama within music, akin to storytelling or speech.

  • Tension Sources:

    • Dominant chords possess leading tones that pull towards resolution, often enhancing the emotional landscape of the piece.

  • The instructor presents this dynamic as a foundation for understanding more complex harmonic structures in jazz.

Constructing and Recognizing Chords

Dominant Chords

  • The standard formula for dominant chords:

    • Root (1), Major Third (3), Perfect Fifth (5), Flat Seventh (♭7).

    • Students are encouraged to learn various permutations of dominant chords, recognizing the role of the seventh in context.

Chord Naming with Modifications

  • When notes deviate from standard chord configurations, these alterations change the naming of the chords. E.g., if a natural note appears where an altered note typically resides, the naming convention reflects this.

    • For example, if a C dominant chord includes a natural fourth (F), it is termed a C9sus4.

Improvisation and Creation of Harmonic Language

  • The instructor emphasizes that as musicians progress, the recognition of dominant chords and their emotional implications can lead to effective improvisation choices.

  • Students are encouraged to think of music as a painted picture, where each chord contributes to the overall emotional narrative.

Conclusion and Further Learning

  • The instructor invites students to overlay learning concepts by either constructing or identifying chords based on the principles taught. The crucial takeaway emphasizes practice, understanding chord functions, and the context of harmonic progressions in jazz music.