BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
4910 / 18210 · Workshop 32 — “Naima”: Pedal Points, Slash Chords, Upper-Structure Harmony, and Hearing Vertical Color Over a Stable Bass← prev⊞ allnext →

32.18One note can change the entire harmonic identity

Notice what happened when G appeared.

With:

D♭/E♭

there was no 3rd.

With:

Cm/E♭

G appears.

Now E♭ acquires a major 3rd.

Suddenly the sonority becomes more functionally specific.

Again:

the 3rd is a switch.