Principles of Coloring Chords (Request)

[outstretchedarm]

Help.  I am still a beginning pianist, trying to develop a beautiful sound.  I hear a great deal about "coloring" your chords from great people on this sight, and I see a lot of examples of this in the tabs that you all create.

I am a very left-brained/logical/linear thinker, and I like to have things explained in terms of principles (as opposed to others who learn better having something shown to them in the context of a song).

could someone come perhaps put into words some "principles" of coloring chords?  like, "when going from a I to a IV, add a 6th for flavor" or "use I 13th when going to a V."  I don't know.  Just a way of thinking about these extended and stacked chords would be really useful.

[T-Block]

Well, the most simple "color" chord, in my opinion, is the add9 chord.  To form this chord, all you have to do is take any major chord and add the 9th to it.  Example:

C major chord = C-E-G
9th = D
C add9 chord = C-D-E-G

You see?  It looks like you are playing a 2, but it is really a 9th.  You can do this with any major chord.  The difference between this chord and a true 9th chord is that a true 9th chord must contain the minor 7th.  Example:

C9 chord = C-E-G-Bb-D

You see?  If you don't have a m7th present, then you just have an add9 chord.

[outstretchedarm]

ironically, my good brother T-block, this is the one chord I DO know.  9th chords are great cause they seem to go almost anywhere. 


So okay...I know that one...


Can anyone hit me off with some more?  and of course, where to use them.  I know a little about scale degrees, so I know how to form these complex chords....but the situations where they are to be used is key.

[outstretchedarm]

no other thoughts?

[B3Wannabe]

This is kinda along the same line as T-Blocks post:

Instead of playing "C-E-G" (a normal major chord), you can play any one of these chords.

1. A-D-G
2. E-A-D
3. D-G-C

[T-Block]

Here is a chord you can use when going from 1-4 or from 7-5:

Key G  LH/RH

G / C-F-A (1)
C# / F-B-D#-G  *here is the chord
C / G-C-E (4)

Key F  LH/RH

Eb / Bb-Eb-G (7)
Db / F-B-Eb-G   *here is the same chord (spelled differently cuz we in a different key)
C / Bb-C-F-G (5)
C / Bb-C-E-G (5)

This chord works in songs like "Because Of Who You Are" and "Give Thanks (with a greatful heart)".

[T-Block]

Here is a way to play a 6-2-5-1-4 progression using some "color" chords:

Key Db  LH/RH

Instead of playing it like this:

Bb / Ab-Db-F (6)
Eb / G-Db-F (2)
Ab / Gb-Cb-Eb (5)
Db / F-Cb-Eb (1)
Gb / F-Bb-Db (4)

Play it like this:

Bb / Ab-Db-F (6)
Eb / G-Db-F (2)
Ab / Cb-Eb-Gb-Bb (5)  *here is a nice "color" chord
Db / Cb-Eb-F-Ab (1)  *here is a nice "color" chord
Gb / Bb-Db-F-Ab (4)  *here is a nice "color" chord

You see and hear the difference?  I use this when playing "Total Praise" and other slow worship songs.

[outstretchedarm]

These look interesting.

I can't real "hear" these cause I'm not at a keyboard, but...

in that last chord progression...it seems you are:

in the 5 chord, you are adding an extra Bb, which is 6th of the tonic but a 2nd (or is it 9th) of the 5 chord.  is that right?

in the 1 chord, you are adding an Ab, which is a 5th of the tonic.  is that there for color, or because it resolves well to the next chord?  (you'll probably say both)

In the 4 chord, you add Ab (5th of the tonic).  i guess that means yuu are adding adding another 9th.

If I understand correctly, you are adding alot of nice 9ths here.  or is there another "why?" to what you are doing here?

[T-Block]

in the 5 chord, you are adding an extra Bb, which is 6th of the tonic but a 2nd (or is it 9th) of the 5 chord.  is that right?

I'm guessing you talking about this chord, Ab / Cb-Eb-Gb-Bb.  This chord is an Abm9 chord.  So, basically I am just changing the natural 5 chord in Db, Ab-C-Eb, into an Abm9 chord, Ab-Cb-Eb-Gb-Bb.  I am playing the root in the bass, and everything else in my RH.

in the 1 chord, you are adding an Ab, which is a 5th of the tonic.  is that there for color, or because it resolves well to the next chord?  (you'll probably say both)

You talking about this chord, Db / Cb-Eb-F-Ab.  This chord is a Db9 chord.  So, basically I am just changing the natural 1 chord in Db, Db-F-Ab, into an Db9 chord, Db-F-Ab-Cb-Eb.  I am playing the root in the bass, and everything else in my RH.  Of course, the notes are switched up a little, but that's o.k.

In the 4 chord, you add Ab (5th of the tonic).  i guess that means yuu are adding adding another 9th.

You talking about this chord, Gb / Bb-Db-F-Ab.  This chord is a GbM7/9 chord (I think that's how it would be written).  So, basically I am just changing the natural 4 chord in Db, Gb-Bb-Db, into a major 7th chord and adding the 9th.  I am playing the root in the bass, and everything else in my RH.

So, I guess your explanations are correct, although I would be careful and not try to analyze too much.  Try to simplify theory as much as possible, trust me.

If I understand correctly, you are adding alot of nice 9ths here.

Yes, I am adding 9ths, but I am also using m7 and M7 chords as well.  Using the wrong kind of 7th can throw the whole chord off.

[outstretchedarm]

thanks for your advice, brother.  I like the idea of frequently thinking: "which kind of seventh will be right for this chord."  That's a new way of thinking for me.  I thought people tended to gravitate to one or the other, like blues type people tended to use dominant 7th while jazzy people use major 7hts.

Thanks for the insight.  I can tell you take your time with these.

[rut]

WAIT A MINUTE!! BACK ALL THESE LESSONS UP CAN YOU START FROM THE BEGINNING WITH THE WHOLE IDEA OF A PRGRESSION AND A ADD9 OR ANYTHING BECAUSE I AM COMPELTLY LOST. SO PLEASE SO YA'LL HELP WITH ANY THING YOU THINK I CAN BENEFIT FROM CAN YOU EXPLAIN OR CHORD WHAT YOU CAN TAKE AWAY OR ANYTHING BECAUSE I AM LOST WE IT COMES TO PROGRESSION, TRIADS, ETC.

 THANK SO MUCH

Well, the most simple "color" chord, in my opinion, is the add9 chord.  To form this chord, all you have to do is take any major chord and add the 9th to it.  Example:

C major chord = C-E-G
9th = D
C add9 chord = C-D-E-G

You see?  It looks like you are playing a 2, but it is really a 9th.  You can do this with any major chord.  The difference between this chord and a true 9th chord is that a true 9th chord must contain the minor 7th.  Example:

C9 chord = C-E-G-Bb-D

You see?  If you don't have a m7th present, then you just have an add9 chord.

[T-Block]

You need help with progressions?  Here are some links to help you out:

Basic Progressions:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,15720.0.html

More Advanced Progressions:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,15731.0.html

Explaining Progressions:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,18550.0.html

Progressions Practice Routing:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,18903.0.html