I have already posted some time ago a problem with piano 7th chords in the Vancouver style. Sometimes the piano will "jazz up" these chords and for most tunes
this can sound wrong.

Here is my original post:'Odd notes on 7th chord' I think was the title:

"However, I use the Pop Vancouver style quite often and playing through a song it always bothered me why often amongst the chord note combinations used in B&B that are pieced together there seemed to be a wrong note or notes during the 7th chord piano playback. It only seems to affect those types of chords or least they are the ones that stand out for me.

I have started looking at this in more detail. While some notes are possibly acceptable passing tones, examples of the odd notes to my ear are as follows:

In one of the offending F7 chords (others are OK) which should have the notes F, Eb, C, A, B&B was playing on the piano (on the first beat) Db, A, F . Well A, F are OK but Db?? Perhaps what was meant was Eb.

An offending G7 chord which has the correct chordal notes F, D, B, G the piano plays notes in sequence G, G, D, F, E, C#, A, G, D, A. Well E is in the G6 chord and A in the G9 chord are sort of acceptable but the C# sounds off. Perhaps D was meant. Another is B, C#, E, A ??

A particular D7 chord has notes D, C, A, F#. On the first beat in one song the following notes are played at the same time A, Eb, F#, D. Playing this on my piano sounds like some sort of diminished chord not a D7 with the rouge Eb note. Perhaps D was meant. Another example is C, F#, B??

It’s not all Vancouver style. Here in B140GTP Bossa an A7 chord (E,C#, A, G) the following notes are played together F#, B, G ?? None of notes except G are in the chord.

As noted above most 7th chords sound OK but in some B&B generations many sound off to me.

Perhaps some might say the above is “acceptable” in jazz, but to me Vancouver style is not Jazz as its sounds orchestral and I believe should be played with straight chordal an perhaps with limited acceptable passing notes."


One workaround is to replace the 7th chords with a 9th chord. I use this often now.

Cheers F
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Cheers F

Last edited by FrankK; 05/02/10 10:07 PM.