What are quaRtal chords and how can they be used?

[chevonee]

If this question has been answered please just lead me to it. The question is what are quaRtal chords and can someone please demonstrate how they can be used?

[sjonathan02]

Actually, they're called, 'quartal' chords. They are based on playing notes a 4th away from each other.

For example:

Db / Bb Eb Ab


Notice in the RH how Eb is a 4th away from Bb and Ab is a 4th away from Eb. Jermaine Griggs talks about quartal chords in his Worship Chords DVD.

[BroAllan]

If this question has been answered please just lead me to it. The question is what are quatal chords and can someone please demonstrate how they can be used?

You got me, Chevonee!

The only thing I recall about quartal chords is that it's basically "fourths" stacked upon each other.
For example:  C-F-Bb-Eb-Ab

As far as inverting them, I believe that you can, but I don't know the rules that would apply.
They seem to have a kind of a "bright" sound, but as far as how and where to use them, I don't know ... sorry 

[T-Block]

Actually, they're called, 'quartal' chords. They are based on playing notes a 4th away from each other.

For example:

Db / Bb Eb Ab


Notice in the RH how Eb is a 4th away from Bb and Ab is a 4th away from Eb. Jermaine Griggs talks about quartal chords in his Worship Chords DVD.

Everything is correct except the notes have to be a Perfect 4th away, not just a 4th.  There are many 4ths, but only one Perfect 4th. 

[fmason3]

I was using quartal chords way before I knew what they were called.  One of my favorites is (lh/rh) C-E-A/D-G-B with the notes in the middle being 4ths apart from each other.  A good example is in the Marvin Sapp (Deon Kipping) song "Praise Him in Advance."  Almost everytime there is a B [natural] in the bass, the chord is some variation of B-D#-G#/C#-F#-A#.....both chords that I showed are maj7(6-9) chords.  One of my favorites to play is Eb-Bb-G/C-F-Bb-Eb (yes I have big hands...LOL).

[B3Wannabe]

See....You made me go back.....

Here is a post I did back in 2003.
http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,177.0.html


The thing I love most about quartal chords is that you can play almost any one with any bass and still have a good sound. I use it as a substitution for a major chord or as an extension of a major or minor chord. In the latter variation, when combined with the left hand chord, it forms more complex chords.

Major Substitution Example:
C \ D-G-C
C \ C-F-Bb

Notice that the quartal chord either starts or ends on C. The first chord forms an C2 the second chord forms a Csus7.


Root Extension:

C-E \ F-Bb-Eb
C-E \ A-D-G (C 6/9)
C-E \ Ab-Db-Gb
C-E \ Bb-Eb-Ab

Basically, to keep it short, I can use any quartal chord over a bass chord. Most of the time, it's as a passing chord to something else.

[musallio]

You guys are a true blessing in my life.
Knowledge is power!!

Thanx.

[chevonee]

Thanks you guys so much for taking time to answer my question. Someone told me that I could use quartal chords over tritones and I ddint understand what he was saying. Oh and thanks for correcting my spelling Sjon, I didn't know what I was tryna type....

[B3Wannabe]

Yea.

I forgot about quartals over tritones. For my ears, though, the tritone is usually part of a root-less chord.

D-Ab / D-G-C or G-C-F (Bb or E played in the bass *notice that those two notes form a tritone*)

In the two examples, the Bb would form a Bb7 and the E would form an E7 when combined with the tritone.

[fmason3]

concerning quartal chords over tritones, I like this progression: D-F# / C-F-Bb  ,   Bb-Ab / D-G-C  ,  Eb-G / D-G-Bb

or in the key of Db, Gb-Db-E / Bb-Eb-Ab  ,  B-Eb-Ab / Db-Gb-Bb

[musallio]

Thanks B3 & Fmason..

This is good stuff

[Mrandrew]

We used them a lot back in the day when I played Go-Go. Makes for a real jazzy sound.

[B3Wannabe]

The intro to "I want to go" by James Hall has a quartal chord...AND if you drop the root note, you have your tritone, like the other post.

Key Gb


D-C-F# \ C-F-Bb
Cb \ A-D-G#
Cb \ Ab-D-Gb
Bb \ Ab-Db-Gb
A \ G-B-D-F#


I left out the melody notes....in a rush.

[chevonee]

I really appreciate all of the patience that you guys show me, that really makes me feel alot better about asking questions such as this. Ok just to make sure that I have the right understanding....this would be a quartal chord over a tritone? D Ab / C F Bb - Db G / B E A

BTW these are some passing chords that I've been working on in the key of C with the 1-6-2-5-1 progression...How does it sound to you??

E Bb / E G Bb C (1)
G Db / G B D (6)
D Ab / C F Bb 
Db G / B E A
Gb C / G A Db E (2)
F B / F A B Eb (5)
E Bb / E G Bb C (1)

[musallio]

Thanks soooo much B3 & Chevonee...these are cool progressions

Hey Vonee, I really like your creativity--subing the root with the tritones.
In my spare time, that is what I work on these days.

Perhaps U could help me with subing the normal chords for "U Are Alpha & Omega" by Israel & New Breed with tritones (or any1 for that matter).

Maybe U can come with some quartals over tritones for the 7-3-6 as well

Thanx in advance.

[B3Wannabe]

I put a couple quartal chords in this post I just did in the Keyboard room.

[musallio]

I put a couple quartal chords in this post I just did in the Keyboard room.

U'r sick B3

thanx bro

[georgiagurl]

I really appreciate all of the patience that you guys show me, that really makes me feel alot better about asking questions such as this. Ok just to make sure that I have the right understanding....this would be a quartal chord over a tritone? D Ab / C F Bb - Db G / B E A

BTW these are some passing chords that I've been working on in the key of C with the 1-6-2-5-1 progression...How does it sound to you??

E Bb / E G Bb C (1)
G Db / G B D (6)
D Ab / C F Bb 
Db G / B E A
Gb C / G A Db E (2)
F B / F A B Eb (5)
E Bb / E G Bb C (1)

How u come up wit dis cuz? Sound good but I dont get how u come up wit dis chords progrssns.

[musallio]

How u come up wit dis cuz? Sound good but I dont get how u come up wit dis chords progrssns.

I know Vonne will explain everything to you, but here is a similar post answering a part of your question.

Here, I was just explaining how the LH notes (Tritones in this case) are derived.

http://zone.hearandplay.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=40&start=15

i hope it makes sense.

[chevonee]

How u come up wit dis cuz? Sound good but I dont get how u come up wit dis chords progrssns.

I hope that you got the email that I sent you about these chords....let me know if you didnt and I'll send it again. Those passing chords are just fooling around and coming up with something that I thought sounded pretty good. Love ya cousin