voicings
How notes stack
Voicings are the specific arrangements of notes in a chord—which notes are included, their order, and their spacing across octaves.
The same chord can have many voicings: The pianist used open voicings to give the ballad more space.
In jazz and composition, choosing voicings shapes the harmonic texture and emotional color of the music.
Reversal of position
- triadGroup of three
- open positionAvailable job slot
- spreadTo distribute widely
- clusterGathered group nearby
shell · seventh · ninth · suspended · diminished · augmented · major · minor
Multiplying by two
- spacingInterval arrangement between objects
- instrumentationDesign of measuring devices
- textureSurface tactile quality
- layeringForming successive strata
register · blend · balance · density · thinning · tutti · divisi · unison
Improvised chordal accompaniment
- rootlessHaving no stable foundation
- modalPertaining to form
- bebopFast, complex jazz style
- swingSuspended recreational seat
standards · improvisation · soloing · ensemble · phrasing · groove · syncopation · riff
Pitch variation in speech
- inflectionWord form alteration
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- pitchFrequency of sound
- toneQuality of sound
resonance · timbre · diction · enunciation · projection · register · vibrato · placement
inversion
Reversal of position
- triadGroup of three
- open positionAvailable job slot
- spreadTo distribute widely
cluster · shell · seventh · ninth · suspended · diminished · augmented · major · minor · extended
doubling
Multiplying by two
- spacingInterval arrangement between objects
- instrumentationDesign of measuring devices
- textureSurface tactile quality
layering · register · blend · balance · density · thinning · tutti · divisi · unison · scoring
comping
Improvised chordal accompaniment
swing · standards · improvisation · soloing · ensemble · phrasing · groove · syncopation · riff · licks
intonation
Pitch variation in speech
- inflectionWord form alteration
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
- pitchFrequency of sound
tone · resonance · timbre · diction · enunciation · projection · register · vibrato · placement · clarity
articulation
Clear vocal expression
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- consonantIn agreement with
- phonemeMinimal distinctive sound unit
aspiration · fricative · plosive · alveolar · labial · palatal · glottal · dental · nasal · affricate
- jazz educationjazz composition, ear training, sight reading, jazz standards, jazz history
- Jazz PianoThelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, comping, block chords, stride piano
- jazzbebop, swing era, hard bop, soul jazz, cool jazz