BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
4937 / 18210 · Workshop 32 — “Naima”: Pedal Points, Slash Chords, Upper-Structure Harmony, and Hearing Vertical Color Over a Stable Bass← prev⊞ allnext →

32.45Level 16 — functional or coloristic?

Ask of any slash sonority:

Does it strongly point somewhere?

If yes: it may participate in functional harmony.

If not: it may simply be color over a pedal/bass line.

Do not assume slash chord = nonfunctional.

Context decides.