Workshop 14 mini-test

1. Why is G7 unusual in F major?

2. What single note distinguishes G7 from Gm7?

3. What is the theoretical function of G7 in F major?

4. What is the ♯11 of G7?

5. What is the 13th?

6. What is the difference between C and C♯ over G7?

7. Why is F6/9 especially useful in bossa?

8. What should remain stable while RH rhythm and harmony become freer?

9. Why can a dominant chord lasting several bars be thought of as color rather than only tension?

10. What is the deepest lesson of this workshop?

Answers

1. F major normally contains Gm, while G7 introduces B natural outside the key.
2. B natural instead of B♭.
3. V7/V, potentially pointing toward C7.
4. C♯
5. E
6. C behaves like natural 11/suspension against B; C♯ gives the more stable bright ♯11 color.
7. It gives an open, warm tonic sound without the stronger leading-tone quality of the major 7th.
8. The LH groove/pulse.
9. When it is prolonged, the ear can begin accepting its sonority as a temporary harmonic environment rather than hearing only immediate resolution pressure.
10. Bossa sophistication comes from allowing rich harmony to exist inside an unforced, stable rhythmic surface.

The central lesson of Workshop 14 is:

The richer the harmony becomes, the less you should feel compelled to advertise it.