9th and 13th chords on piano/keyboard

[Whyte Ice]

When you play a 9th or a 13th chord on a piano, do you usually play every single note that is involved or do you use any shortcut.

I haven't been playing too long and I know how to play every single chord except those 9ths and 13ths. I can play maybe one or two full 9th chords but thats as far as I can go.

Another question, what chord is this (G, A, C) ?

 

[badgas]

Hi Whyte.

I haven't been playing keys very long myself. I play the full chords sometimes, but most of the time I play the root and go for the toneal sound I'm looking for. If it takes both hands, I try a different approach. I don't do solos or anything, mostly fills and some kind of background noise.

About your , GAC quesion.

Take your pick:

Cm6
C6
C6sus4
Am7-5
Am7
D7sus4
Am7+5
Am9
F9
Am7add11
Gm11


And countless other names. It all depends on what key, root, your using it in as to what it's usually called.
Note that I said "usually". There is no 'set in stone' ruling on what a chord is named. But most of the time it's named from the key in which is being played. It saves some confusion. But ask a Jazz player, and he'll argue with me.

Hope it helps.

 

[secondroy]

Your 9th and 13th cords are just add ons to the dominant 7th chord. Piano players usually play the 7th but guitar players don't have enough fingers to do it all the time so most skip the 7th and sound the add on.

 

[jjtcorsair]

When playing those extended dominant chords like 9th and 13ths I always include the root, the 3rd, the 7th as well as the extended tone (9th or 13th in this case). The 5th is the first tone you'll want to leave behind as it's the least important in terms of tonal flavor. That said, it's easy to keep the 5th if you think of it this way: On the keyboard, it's easier to think of these kinds of chords as triads played with the right hand and non related roots and fifths played with the left hand. For instance a C9 chord is a G minor triad with a C in the bass.

As for your G A C question, Badgas got it right: it depends what key your in, what chords follow and precede it what other notes are being sang or played by other instruments, etc. If thats the only chord in your song I would call it a tone cluster in the key of G.

Jon

 

[badgas]

jjt.
As I said earlier, I'm pretty cherry on a keyboard, but I'm learning. About the left hand right hand arrangment you spoke of concerning keeping the 5th.

That's a great tip.
I did that but was unaware of what I was doing I guess. Now I can use it and know what I'm doing.

Thanks.

 

[badgas]

secondroy.

I see what your saying. I've been transposing the chords from my guitar to my keys. Another good tip.

I should get some lessons on my keyboard,,,,,

 

[Whyte Ice]

Another question, do you play 9th / 13th chords all on one hand or do you play the root bass note on one hand and the rest on the other?

Do any of you play chords with your left hand while playing individual notes with your right? I have tried doing this but its pretty hard to form chords, especially the more complicated ones with my left hand. I'm a natural righty.

 

[jjtcorsair]

A good rule of thumb (ha ha) on any instrument is to play the root lower than any of the other notes. On the keyboard, I'll usually play just two notes with my left hand- to my ear this keeps the chord from sounding muddy. With my right hand I play the notes that best define the chord, ie the 3rd, 7th, the b9th, etc. Of course, sometimes playing the root and the 7th with my left hand allows me to best spread out the tones of the chord.

For example C7b9 = (LH) C Bb (RH) Db E G

There's a lot to take into consideration though: What note or notes are sounding over the chord? Are there melodic lines within the chord progession? What chords precede and follow?

Ahhh, harmonic study --it's deep. Take my advice for what it is- shallow or at least not too deep.

 

[secondroy]

jj is dead on when he says that if you are going to omit one of the notes of an extended chord omit the 5th. I did not make that clear in my post above. Sorry.