[Dixielandjazz] Subject: Unsophisticated Dixieland Chords

[dwlit at cpcug.org]

I can't deal with the technicalities of chord theory or the extended chords,
but extended chords change the *sound* of the music, in which case it
ain't dixieland any more. I just don't *enjoy* extended chords in
dixieland--though I can enjoy *moderately* extended chord versions of
American Songbook tunes from the latter 30s-->. (I can think of a couple
of terrific local pianists who despoil Dixieland, but whom I otherwise
enjoy listening to and would hire to play in my dance band.)

--Sheik

Dan (Backup pianoman) Spink wrote:
> Sorry to sound like a
> naysayer here, but I have one big complaint about those fancy, expanded
> chords. I'm sure I'll raise hackles--but I'll give it a shot anyway. When
> you add those far out sophisticated notes (9,11,13 and variations) you're
> really adding overtones that are more distant--and difuse the character of
> the foundation chord. When you add enough of them--you really can't tell
> one
> chord from another. At least, that's my opinion. I still like those simple
> 3
> and 4 note chords, I guess.