IROCKU Piano Tips – Chord Extensions

This week’s IROCKU Piano Tip looks at Chord Extensions.  Chord Extensions are the notes outside of a chord that you can use to enhance the chord.  The video begins by adding the dominant 7^th note to a chord, and then adds the 9^th along with showing the different chord inversions.  We explore the 9^th by raising it up a half step to the sharp 9^th and by lowering it a half step to the flat 9^th to add harmonic tension and funky variations to your chords.  The video then introduces these chord extensions into a 12 bar jazz/blues progression in C:

 I⁷– V⁷-I⁷-I⁷

 IV⁷-IV⁷-I⁷-VI⁷

 II⁷-V⁷-I⁷-I⁷

The video goes through the progression using just dominant 7^th chords, then using 9^th chords and then adds in sharp 9ths and flatted 9ths to add even more color.  The video ends with an introduction to quarter note walking bass lines that are created by outlining each chord and then leading to the next chord.  This is an excellent video to expand your vocabulary of piano accompaniment techniques for playing with a singer or comping with a band.

Levels: Intermediate-Advanced.

IROCKU Piano Tips cover piano techniques and fundamentals, improvisation, rhythm and groove, progressions, rhythm patterns, piano accompaniment, music theory and riffs.

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IROCKU Piano Tips

Learn how to play rock and blues piano from one of rock’s greatest. Chuck Leavell, legendary keyboardist for The Rolling Stones, The Allman Bros, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and more.

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