7179 / 18210 · Workshop 54 — “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”: Soul-Jazz Harmony, Gospel Cadences, Backbeat Feel, Repeated Hooks, and Making Simple Chords Sound Warm Instead of Plain← prev⊞ allnext →
54.86Four ways to enrich a simple chord before replacing it
When a chord sounds plain, try—in this order:
1. Improve the voicing.
2. Improve the voice leading.
3. Improve the rhythmic placement.
4. Add or remove one color tone.
Only then ask:
Do I actually need a different chord?
This is a very useful practical rule.