Tim Wood Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 I was wondering if anyone could give advice with transcribing complex jazz voicings- I love the way Chick Corea voices his chords on an all time favourite of mine- But Beautiful. I'm not really bothered about learning his melodic lines, but more his chords in the introduction. They are just the kind of chords that I want to play, but transcribing them is so hard. I assume he uses lots of upper structures. Many Thanks for any help given!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linwood Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 Lot's to grab there and wonder "how'd he come up with that?!" Like the opening chord. To see where he might have came up with it play. LH- C G E RH- Bb Db F# A (or sorta F#/C w/out that melody tone) TO LH- G D F# RH- B E A He's doin' something like the melody Up to that A and then hittin' the G Followed by Spelling that F# triad voiced open with the F# on top = C# A# F# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Wood Posted February 6, 2010 Author Share Posted February 6, 2010 Thanks so much! It sounds incredible when I play it, How would you label that chord?!! On the lead sheet in the first bar, it's a Gmaj7, but haven't got a clue how Chick came up with that. Do you have any advice on how you came to know the voicing for the chord. I'm not too bad at finding the top and bottom note, but it's the notes in between. I suppose having a lead sheet will help though he may use a few different substitute chords. I know Chick's voicings aren't a great place to start, but I'm obsessed with them kind of voicings! They just seem so elusive and hard to transcribe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linwood Posted February 6, 2010 Share Posted February 6, 2010 I imagine he came up with it like I described. To him it's C7 to GM7, but he subs a rootless C13#11b9 to a GM7.You could also see like F#/G and it'd prolly be easier. Gm GM. I was just hearin' IV I, but who knows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougmck Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 I imagine he might think of it simply as Gdim resolving almost immediately to Gmaj9. This is one of the common devices he (and many others) use to add some spice in a similar situation often when the melody note is the Major 7th or the 9th (e.g the first note after the pickup in these standards - 'People'(9th), in 'Misty'(Maj7th), 'Tenderly'(Maj7th) and 'But Beautiful' (9th). I have done one of my tutorials that tries to catch just a hint of the spirit of Chick's version of 'But Beautiful' on his solo piano "Standards' CD which is similar in many ways to the 1st chorus of this youtube video. Even though I didn't use this device on my version, you might get something from watching this Tim - it is in the same key. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmymio Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Doug that was incredible. Thanks, JP 1935 Mason & Hamlin Model A Korg Kronos 2 73 Nord Electro 6D 61 Yam S90ES Rhodes Stage 73 (1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linwood Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Doug you're killin'! Hang out more with us, if you can. Great stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Doug, Great information and a wonderful web site. You offer a lot of information. He uses a similar device in his original "Lenore" in bars 39 and 41. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Yeah, that was nice Doug. Tim, Chick played some nice things there, but I think his voicings are not that far from a standard rendition. I did a quick take of just the head, not realizing Doug had posted his version already. So I guess I'll go ahead and put this up too, since I just did it in the same key. http://www.divshare.com/download/10403417-bff CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Wood Posted February 7, 2010 Author Share Posted February 7, 2010 That was nice Doug. Thanks for the tips. SK, do you think then I would be able to follow Chick's intro from the lead sheet which indicates the basic harmonies? I've downloaded your version and will listen to it later. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piano4U Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 SK - terrific voicings and playing per usual! Doug - nice to see you here! My YouTube Videos My Lot2Learn Jazz Piano Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Thanks Roger. SK, do you think then I would be able to follow Chick's intro from the lead sheet which indicates the basic harmonies? Yes, overall, I'd think so. I listened to the Chick version once through - he did a few different things, like a Bb sus (instead of E7) going down chromatically to the A sus (which may be an A7+11 on a lead sheet). And he veered away from the tune for a moment right before the last A section. Trying to transcribe all that may be more trouble than its worth. I've never been a big fan of transcribing, but there are plenty of traditional things he does in there that are worth knowing. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougmck Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Great playing SK. It is good to have another take on this song - and one that has so many interesting ideas to study. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted February 7, 2010 Share Posted February 7, 2010 Doug, your version had more to it; mine was a passing glance at the tune, but thank you. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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