Quote:

"go learn all the chords"



I never did that. Memorizing every (or even many)chord types in every root just wasn't going to happen with me. I learned chord tones for each chord type in in a methodical manner, and then apply to any root.

For instance, I know if I play a C7 in my left hand (1 3 5 b7) and a Dm (think C plus one whole step = D) in my right (9 11 13), I can get to most chords. So for a C7b9 I play the C7 in my left, then flat the 9 in my right, and don't play the 11 or 13. For a C13#11b5 I play the C7 in my left, but flat the 5, and play the Dm in my right but sharp the 11.

So if I need an Eb13#11b5, I play an Eb7 in my left hand, and Fm (Eb plus one whole step)in my right, then flat the five and sharp the 11, and that's that. And I can quickly do that for any chord type and any root. No memorizing, no charts. I just develop a means to conjure any chord in C, and learn an easy way to apply that to any root.

Of course, this only tells me what notes comprise the chord, nothing more. How to express the chord is another thing.

It gets easier after numerous decades.

kelso

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