A Perfect Line in Fourths - 4 You!
The use of consecutive Perfect 4ths (P4ths) is a tried and true method of creating variety and contrast in one's melodic lines.
Harmony in 4ths - known as quartal harmony - was introduced in the early 20th century by European composers such as Ravel and Bartok, among others.
In the 1960s, its use was pioneered by American pianists, most notably McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock, and spread rapidly to improvisers on all melodic instruments.
In this post we'll take a look at an example of P4s in a melodic line over a familiar harmonic device - namely the iii-VI-ii-V-I chord sequence.
Harmony in 4ths - known as quartal harmony - was introduced in the early 20th century by European composers such as Ravel and Bartok, among others.
In the 1960s, its use was pioneered by American pianists, most notably McCoy Tyner and Herbie Hancock, and spread rapidly to improvisers on all melodic instruments.
In this post we'll take a look at an example of P4s in a melodic line over a familiar harmonic device - namely the iii-VI-ii-V-I chord sequence.
The example below illustrates a melodic line consisting of P4ths, mostly in groups of 3 notes (known as a trichord), over an extended version of a common iii-VI-ii-V-I chord progression.
The extensions take place in the form of a chromatic passing ii-V7 in bar #2 (Eb-11 Ab13), and a bII7 tritone substitution on the first 2 beats of bar #4. Thus, what is essentially a iii-VI-ii-V-I chord progression can now be labeled as a iii VI / biii bVI / ii V / bII I chord sequence in the key of C.
The extensions take place in the form of a chromatic passing ii-V7 in bar #2 (Eb-11 Ab13), and a bII7 tritone substitution on the first 2 beats of bar #4. Thus, what is essentially a iii-VI-ii-V-I chord progression can now be labeled as a iii VI / biii bVI / ii V / bII I chord sequence in the key of C.
iii VI7 biii bVI7 ii V/ bII7 I
Check out the uninterrupted flow of eight P4s (3 groups of 3 notes) , from the first beat of bar #3 to the first two beats of bar #4. The Perfect 5ths are inverted P4s.
Listen
The Free-B downloadable pdf (link above) has this sequence in all 12 keys.
Have at it & have fun with it!
B. Stern
Have at it & have fun with it!
B. Stern
Related:
*** Go Ye 4th: Fourtitude + Lines in 4ths ***
*** The Lines Are Open! - An open 027 Trichord line ***
***Pentalogy - A Multi Pentatonic Scale Practical Practice Guide ***
*** Go Ye 4th: Fourtitude + Lines in 4ths ***
*** The Lines Are Open! - An open 027 Trichord line ***
***Pentalogy - A Multi Pentatonic Scale Practical Practice Guide ***
Shortbooks™ - For Serious Improvisers of All Levels! Add them to your library.
RSS Feed
