8 Awesome Types Of 3Note Chord Voicings And How To Use Them Jens Larsen

Cover 8 Awesome Types Of 3Note Chord Voicings And How To Use Them Jens Larsen (2345x597)

Table of Contents

1. What is Chord Voicing?
2. How to Use Chord Voicing
3. Chord Voicing Techniques
4. Common Chord Voicings
5. Chord Voicing Examples

What is Chord Voicing?

Chord voicing is the art of arranging the notes of a chord in a way that sounds good and fits the style of music being played. It is an important skill for any musician, especially those who play piano or guitar, as it can greatly enhance the sound of a song.

Chord voicing involves selecting which notes to play from a chord and how to arrange them in a way that sounds good. This can involve omitting certain notes, adding color tones, or using different inversions of the chord.

How to Use Chord Voicing

Using chord voicing requires a good understanding of music theory and a knowledge of the different chord types and their inversions. It also requires experimentation and a willingness to try different arrangements until you find one that works.

Here are some tips on how to use chord voicing:

• Start with a basic chord and experiment with different inversions to see how they sound. Inversions involve moving the notes of a chord up or down an octave.
• Try different color tones - these are notes that are not part of the basic chord but can be added to create a more interesting sound.
• Use chord voicing to create a sense of movement in your music. For example, you can use chord inversions to create a sense of tension and release.
• Experiment with different chord types. For example, a major chord can be made to sound more interesting by using a minor 7th or a 9th in the chord voicing.

Chord Voicing Techniques

There are several chord voicing techniques that can be used to create interesting sounds and add variety to your music. Here are some of the most common:

• Shell voicings: These involve playing only the essential notes of a chord - the root, third, and seventh. This creates a more open sound and leaves room for other instruments or vocals to fill in the gaps.
• Drop 2 voicings: These involve taking a chord and dropping the second-highest note down an octave. This creates a more spread-out sound and can be used to create tension or release.
• Block chords: These involve playing all the notes of a chord at the same time. This creates a dense, full sound and is often used in big band or orchestral music.

Common Chord Voicings

There are several chord voicings that are commonly used in music. Here are some examples:

• Root position: This is the most basic chord voicing, where the root note is played at the bottom of the chord.
• First inversion: This involves moving the root note up an octave and playing the third note at the bottom of the chord.
• Second inversion: This involves moving the root note and the third note up an octave and playing the fifth note at the bottom of the chord.
• Drop 2: This involves taking a chord and dropping the second-highest note down an octave.

Chord Voicing Examples

Here are some examples of chord voicings:

• C major: Root position - C E G; first inversion - E G C; second inversion - G C E.
• G7: Root position - G B D F; first inversion - B D F G; second inversion - D F G B.
• Dm7: Root position - D F A C; first inversion - F A C D; second inversion - A C D F.

Conclusion

Chord voicing is an essential skill for any musician, as it can greatly enhance the sound of a song. It involves selecting which notes to play from a chord and how to arrange them in a way that sounds good. By experimenting with different inversions, color tones, and chord types, you can create interesting and unique sounds that fit the style of music you are playing.