Chord Voicing
Found in: About The Method, Accompaniment, Curriculum, Playing-Based Methodology
Susan M., Canada
How would you answer this question from a parent? “Why does the way we learn 7th chords only have 3 notes? To make a F#m7, isn’t that an A chord?” I’m very comfortable with the practical application of the voicing idea between the notes over both hands, but I was surprised that they thought it was cheating.
Mark M. New York
It’s not cheating at all. The “whole” chord from a music theory standpoint is just that, a theoretical thing. Far more often, in practice, out in the world and not just in Simply Music, chords are voiced differently from the basic theoretically correct version. Sound preference and performing convenience dictate what notes get chosen from a chord and what order they get put it. Not cheating at all.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
The Accompaniment program is about giving students quick access to a LOT of chords so that they can play lots of music. So we teach them ONE way of voicing the 12 chords in every key. It’s not right, wrong, good or bad, it’s just one way to play them.
Original discussion started March 6, 2018