9786 / 18210 · Workshop 80 — Harmonic Ambiguity and Delayed Identity: Sus Chords, No-3rd Voicings, Slash Chords, Pedals, and Letting the Listener Discover the Harmony← prev⊞ allnext →
80.106Connection to ear playing
When transcribing by ear, sometimes you cannot immediately tell:
major or sus?
slash chord or inversion?
tonic or dominant-quality vamp?
Do not force a label too early.
First identify:
bass
top note
important intervals
common tones
destination.
The correct harmonic interpretation may become obvious later.