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Author:  Steve Barkhurst Posted:  4/16/06; 9:26:14 PM Topic:  I Love Paris and thank you Msg#:  4819 (in response to 4816) Prev/Next:  4818/4820 Reads:  680

Chas... here's a response to your A-11 comment that:

"...when I construct this in full†, using my bass string for the root†A,† this chord†becomes a virtual††Ami11..."

Almost, but Ami11 wouldn't have Eb. And if we called it Ami11b5 to account for the Eb, that would still be incorrect, I think.

My old guy harmonic training recalls that the A-11 symbol (or Ami11) mandates inclusion of the 9 (B), and that wasn't my intention.

The D is actually a harmonic leftover... the major 7 of the previous Eb ma7.

Here's how the changes happen in my mind and left hand, or as I might voice it for a string section.

Notice that the Eb and G are constant. First, comes a simple triad. C-. It's followed by another triad, what I labeled B+ for convenience, but what I actually think of harmonically as C- with a flatted root (HERESY in the eyes of some, I kow). With Bbma7, a fourth voice is added, and a fifth voice joins in with my confusing A-7b5 (sus 4):

C-: C Eb G

B+: B D# F## (Cb Eb G)

Eb ma7/Bb: Bb D Eb G

A-7b5 (sus 4): A C D Eb G

As I recall from analyzing Bach in college, a leftover from a previous chord is a suspension... or is it an appogiatura? I'm a foggy fogey on that one.

As to the why: C, D and Eb are the first three pitches of the melody. As such, their re-stated vertical presence in my oddly described A-7b5 (sus 4) doesn't hurt my ear. In hindsight, I recall wanting to give the minor section density in preparation for major triadic release, i.e., to empower the simple C major triad to come. If I'd called it A-7b5 (add 11), I felt it would infer that the D should be added on top (A C Eb G D), and that would have made it too out front for me.

Also in hindsight, I can understand the confusion I caused... the "sus" instruction includes replacing the third with either 2 or 4. My bad.

For my edification, can you (or someone) suggest a more accurate shorthand way to describe my voicing of A C D Eb G for others?

Thanks,

Steve

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