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A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:06 am
by miker
I'm notating a piece that has a chord Dm(maj7).

Is that the same as Dm(#7)? Is there a better way to show it?

It's in a progression that goes Dm > Dm(maj7) > Dm/C

Enquiring minds want to know!

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:29 am
by Bill Stevens
I wonder if that implies a descending bass line so it would be Dm -- Dm/C# -- Dm/C.

Does what you are notating give a hint to that?

::: Bill

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:36 am
by motet
My guess would be D-F-A-C#. I don't know from chord notation, though.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:59 am
by Hector Pascal
My guess would be the same as Bill's (and motet's). Additionally, maybe the descending D C# C bass line could be interpreted as the top voice of the chords' progression.
Cheers,
HP.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 11:43 am
by michelp
A typical chord progression. The moving note (8, Maj7, 7) can be seen in the voicing or as as bass line.
P.S.: I wouldn't use the Dm(#7) form.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:12 pm
by johnmouse
I would notate the way you suggested Dm (maj7). I play from lead sheets often and this would make perfect sense to me.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:13 pm
by zuill
I also use Dm(maj7). If you want the bass to walk down chromatically, you can do Dm Dm(maj7)/C# Dm/C

Doing Dm Dm/C# Dm/C accomplishes the same result.

So, choose the one that works best for the situation. I find that the simpler the notation, the better, so the second option is very often preferred, especially when I am writing for an ensemble with guitar and bass. Some guitar players want to do a fancy Dm(maj7) voicing and a simple Dm works better, so I choose that.

Knowing your ensemble is essential when it comes to chord symbol notation, in my opinion.

Zuill

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:45 pm
by miker
Thanks to everyone for the education and suggestions!

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 8:42 pm
by ebiggs1
My guess would be D-F-A-C#.
Me too, doesn't a Dm(maj7) already have a C# ? Doing Dm/C# simply moves the C# to the bass ? I would prefer Dm Dm/C# Dm/C.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 9:05 pm
by zuill
There are pros and cons to each of the 2 ways I mentioned: Dm(maj7)/C# or Dm/C#. Guitar players will see these one way if there is a bass player doing the split symbols. They would voice the Dm(maj7) differently if they were also handling the bass movement. Same with a piano player handling both parts of the split symbol.

So, the setting determines much about how these things are perceived and interpreted.

Zuill

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 12:10 pm
by johnmouse
I may have misunderstood. If the bass line is going from C# to C, then I would use Dm/C# Dm/C

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 3:11 pm
by ebiggs1
Yes

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 3:27 pm
by zuill
In the original post, Mike did not indicate that the Dm(maj7) has a C# in the bass. Somewhere along the way, some assumed that might be the case.

In any event, if the #7 is indicated with/C# to be played as a bass note, but the C# is also wanted in the chord as well (right hand for a piano player), then it is best to use Dm(maj7)/C#. If that is not the case, then Dm/C# is fine. The context determines the voicing.

Just last night I had a piece (in performance) that had G2/A. The written music had a chord with BDGA (the 2 on top). That was the specifically desired voicing. So, G2/A is the way to write the chord. If the right hand voicing was just BDG, then G/A is best.

Context is important. We deal with this every day, so it is something that needs to be understood. I teach this to my students, so they have the best voicing possible. The chord symbol must be understood in context.

Zuill

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 4:02 pm
by miker
This was just a lead sheet, so, no piano.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 4:08 pm
by zuill
A lead sheet has chords for someone to play, however. Will this be for a pianist or guitarist?

Zuill

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:08 pm
by ebiggs1
I agree totally. A Dm(maj7) would have a D in the bass or the lowest note at least. A Dm(maj7)/#C would put a C# as the bass or bottom note.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 8:30 pm
by miker
Zuill,
Both. Piano comping, with a bass. And maybe ukulele. This is for the Temple choir, so nothing is a surprise, anymore...

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 3:45 pm
by ebiggs1
In combos the bassist’s primary job is to play the roots of the chords. The pianist’s primary job is to play chords but sometimes omits the root note.
I have never done Temple choir, or even any real choir work at all, nor ukulele music so I don't know if this is still true with them.

Re: A question of Chords

Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:31 am
by HaraldS
miker wrote:I'm notating a piece that has a chord Dm(maj7). Is that the same as Dm(#7)?
I agree with writing "maj7" . I would oppose strongly "#7" as it implies a raised 7th from the standard major scale, which would result in the chord's root note and thus being wrong. But obviously, the consensus here is "maj7" which is perfectly correct.

Harald