Left Hand di-tone tri-tones...
Hey LGM Fam,
I just wanted share with you all something that I use in my playing (now that I have learned and recognize it). I have no idea what the proper name of it is, but I am going to call it the di-tone tri-tone for this discussion. This is comprised of 3 notes that I hear some people play in their left hand. It is the root, major third, and minor seventh (1-3-b7). I call it a ditone tritone because the major third is a ditone interval (2 [di-] whole steps) away from the root, and the minor 7th (or dominant seventh) is a tritone interval (3 [tri-] whole steps) away from the third. This left hand chord is used with a regular major triad in the right hand. Do you follow me so far?
OK, here are some application. When you are in a particular key, lets say C for example, you can use this on the 1 (I), 3 (III) or b7 (bVII) bass note (what a coincidence). Here we go...
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Here is a common 2-3-4 progression in C:
DA/FAC - (Dmin7) - 2 (II)
EC/EGC - (CMaj/E) - 3 (III)
FC/EAC - (FMaj7) - 4 (IV)
Now on the 3rd, substitute the 3rd left hand notes with the di-tone tri-tone, gives it some tension:
DA/EFAC - (Dmin9) - 2 (II)
EAbD/EGC - (E7#5add#9) - 3 (III) (I'm not sure if this is called an augmented chord or not)
FC/EGAC - (FMaj9) - 4 (IV)
Can you hear the difference? I know I added some notes to the other chords, but do you see? This is not only used on the 3rd interval of a key but any time you play a major chord with the Major 3rd bass note (like instead of F#/ADF# (DMaj/F#), you can play F#A#E/ADF# (F#7#5add#9). Are you still with me?
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OK, another example in C:
I don't know how many of you remember this song, I think it is called "Perfect Praise". It goes, "Oh Lord, How excellent, how excellent, how excellent is... thy name...." Anyway, when they get to the "In all the earth..." part, the beggining of that chord progression is b7 is the first bass note:
Bb/CEG - (CMaj/Bb) - (bVII)
Now instead of playing that, use the di-tome tri-tone, again giving some jazzy tension that we all love:
BbDAb/CEG - (Bb7#5 add#9)
Again, Can you hear the difference? Again, this can be used anytime you play a major chord with its b7 as the bass note. Try it out on some other song or progression!
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Last Example in C:
This one is probably more familiar to everyone. This is using it on the tonic (I) or 1 chord. So for the key of C, this would be the CMaj chord:
CG/EGC - (CMaj) - (I)
Now, use that di-tone tri-tone left hand chord to make it a 7th chord:
CEBb/EGC - (C7) - (I)
Now for this chord, this left hand di-tone tritone gives you the advantage of puting your dominant notes and bass in the left which frees you to play other notes in the right. For instance, try playing a 9th instead of doubling up on the 3rd in the right hand:
CEBb/DGC - (C9)
Now, add in the 13th:
CEBb/DGAC - (C9add13)
Do you see how this changes the sound of the chord? Its nothing new really, just a different way to voice the chord, gives you a sound that is a little different. I like playing this chord when ending songs on I sometimes. Try it out!
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Now, I use the di-tone tritone left hand combination mainly because I play keyboard, so I do not have the luxury of a bass pedal like the organ. You could very well just play the tritone in your left hand and the root with your bass pedal, but the concept of where you can apply this is the same. It seems rather simple, but it is another trick or substitution to put in your bag of tricks. Hoola back at your boy and tell me what you think. Be Blessed!
