Hi PF.

There are various uses for transitional chords. One is as as link chords when changing key, but the use I was referring to was the use of chords to create melody with harmony.

As I'm sure you know (but I'll mention it in case you don't) there is a "natural" chord for each note of the scale, chords 1/4/5 being major, 2/3/6 minor and 7 diminished. Using these "natural" triads to play a melody ensures that the notes used are all scale notes and harmonically related. They are called transitional because they are used briefly as part of the melody. Holding a natural chord would stop it being transitional and it would become part of the chord chart and would need to be part of that progression.

Pianists and guitarists use this technique frequently. Hope this makes sense - it's a difficult subject to explain in a short space.

ROG.

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