Chords to play over normal Maj chords to spice things up a bit!!!!>?!>!>!

[GuitaristZ]

man...im so sick of major chords haha...well sort of. The band at my school im playing in right now does songs with mainly plain major or minor chords. Are there chords I could play over these normal chords to spice things up a bit? Like lets say the rest of the band is playing C maj...could I play some special secret chord to make it better? lol I know in jazz a Maj6/maj7 etc. can be SUBSTITUTED for a normal major chord but I dont know about played over. help me! I want to learn more interesting chords!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PaulS]

Could try to fit different voicings of the chord in to change it up.....

[GuitaristZ]

All I know is the caged thing and bars chords etc. I dont know if that is what you mean?

[Lester B. Flat]

Sure, there are other chords you could play that wouldn't be dissonant but they may not necessarily be tasteful. It depends on the song. A lot of pop and rock music doesn't stray away from major or minor triads. You can play the same chord in a different position to spice it up a bit, espescially if you are not the only guitarist. Sometimes you can add a 7th without grossing anyone out. If you are the only chording instrument in the band you can reharmonize on the fly with more freedom as long as it supports the melody.

[Paul]

man...im so sick of major chords haha...well sort of. The band at my school im playing in right now does songs with mainly plain major or minor chords. Are there chords I could play over these normal chords to spice things up a bit? Like lets say the rest of the band is playing C maj...could I play some special secret chord to make it better? lol I know in jazz a Maj6/maj7 etc. can be SUBSTITUTED for a normal major chord but I dont know about played over. help me! I want to learn more interesting chords!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's been a while....there is a thing called like function substitution. The diatonic 7th chords in the key of C and their functions are

Cmaj7 - tonic chord
D-7 - subdominant chord
E-7 - tonic chord
Fmaj7 - sub dominant chord
G7 - dominant chord
A-7 - tonic chord
B-7b5 - dominant chord

So assuming it works in context, (and your ears will tell you), you will be able to substitute an E-7 or and A-7 for a Cmaj7, in the key of C. D-7 and Fmaj7 are interchangable, in the key of C, and G7 and B-7b5 are interchangable, in the key of C.

Or, to apply it to all major keys:

Imaj7 = iii-7 = vi-7
ii-7 = IVmaj7
V7 = vii-7b5

There are all sorts of substitutions out there, but that is the $0.05 introduction to like function subsitution. Along with learning what you can substitute, it would behoove you to learn why....but that's another thread altogether.

It's also known as reharmonizing, and here is a decent link:

http://akamai.www.berkleemusic.com/assets/display/3715404/berklee_substitutions_jazz.pdf

[GuitaristZ]

wow....I cant express how much this helps me today. Im playing with my band tomorrow :D


Thanks so much! I'm going to start using these RIGHT away!!!

[Paul]

wow....I cant express how much this helps me today. Im playing with my band tomorrow :D


Thanks so much! I'm going to start using these RIGHT away!!!

Wait until you learn about tri-tone substitutions! :smile:

Remember it's all about the context of the song you are playing. You have a lot more latitude to make substitutions and re-harmonize if you have a good to great bass player. Pay attention to the keyboard player; the less you step on each others toes, the better you both will sound.

And don't feel obligated to play all of the notes in each and every chord each and every time. Ed Bickert is a master of playing simple but beautiful 2 note supporting lines.

Good luck

[GuitaristZ]

Just wondering how you got to those theory lessons on the Berklee site...I signed up but couldnt find them.

[Paul]

Just wondering how you got to those theory lessons on the Berklee site...I signed up but couldnt find them.

I googled like function substitution music and picked the hit I liked best to put in my post. The word reharmonization caught my eye

For all of the free Berklee stuff try:

http://www.berkleeshares.com/

That link should work......but this is the interweb.

[GuitaristZ]

right on buddy! thanks :) I will be indulging on these printouts during my lunch breaks for the next few weeks, thanks again. (I'm obsessed with music. It is my passion lol)

[peter benn]

In the Key of C, I've been discovering the baritone chord from Mustang Sally -- third fret, low to high -- G C G C X X

Sometimes a five-string F shape sounds more appropriate than a six-sring bar chord. Again that is a V root.

Among "conventional" voicings, you have the I V and the I III (E or A shape; and then the C shape). Whatever the other person does, you can do the other, and at a different part of the neck.