polychord
Layered simultaneous triads
A polychord is two or more chords sounded simultaneously, creating complex harmonic textures.
Jazz and modern classical composers use polychords to produce rich, often dissonant sonorities: The pianist voiced a C major triad over an F-sharp major triad.
The technique layers distinct harmonic identities rather than blending them into a single chord.
Expressing aloud
- clusterGathered group nearby
- stackingPlacing items vertically
- fourthsOne-quarter portions
- fifths750ml spirit bottles
superimposition · polytonality · voicings · layering · simultaneity · vertical · sonority · density
- Coltrane"Giant Steps" musician
- HancockColonial Massachusetts leader
- modalPertaining to form
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
fusion · comping · extensions · alterations · reharmonization · impressionism · Debussy · Ravel
Violent disagreement or collision
- tensionStretched or strained state
- bitePierce with teeth
- crunchCrushing, grinding noise
- rubApply friction manually
harshness · density · complexity · resolution · instability · ambiguity · unrest · suspension
Thing of mixed parentage
- compoundCombined into one
- symbolRepresentational mark or sign
- chartData shown visually
- lead sheetMinimal musical notation format
analysis · over · bass note · root · diagram · transcription · arrangement · score
voicing
Expressing aloud
fifths · superimposition · polytonality · voicings · layering · simultaneity · vertical · sonority · density · richness
Stravinsky
bebop · fusion · comping · extensions · alterations · reharmonization · impressionism · Debussy · Ravel · Gershwin
clash
Violent disagreement or collision
rub · harshness · density · complexity · resolution · instability · ambiguity · unrest · suspension · discord
hybrid
Thing of mixed parentage
lead sheet · analysis · over · bass note · root · diagram · transcription · arrangement · score
chord, chords, polyglot, polygon, poly, polyphonic, polyphony, polychromatic, chordal