Enhance Your Compositions with Polytonality Techniques

Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

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Polytonality: For Concerto/OrchestralWriting lesson

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This is the Re-Post that you requested.

Polytonality is the use of two or more keys at the same time:

poly-tonality-orchestral-composing-chords-example

In this first example we have 4 bars of Polytonality with Eminor/DbMajor and EbMajor/CMajor

Sheet music showing a polytonal example with E minor/Db Major and Eb Major/C Major labels.
Musical notation illustrating polytonality with E minor/Db Major and Eb Major/C Major.

This then resolves itself with a “Tonal” diatonic cadence of B7/D# to Em:

Polytonality-Orchestral Example

This example explores “Implication”. In this case it is implying the melodic minor but avoiding the cliche by employing the richness of Polytonality:

Sheet music showing C# minor, Fm7, A minor, Ab Major, and Gm6/A chords with annotations as examples for polytonality.
Musical notation illustrating chord progressions in polytonality, featuring C# minor, Fm7, Aminor, Ab Major, and Gm6/A.

From here, we will again employ diatonic harmony for a cadence.

To complete this short orchestral example we will go back into Polytonality with another melodic minor implication by employing Dminor/DbMajor:

Sheet music showing the chord labels 'D minor' and 'Db Major' in red text to demonstrate polytonality.
Musical chart depicting D minor and Db Major for a polytonal music example.

Here is the chart:

poly-tonality-orchestral-composing-example

Polytonality-Orchestral Example

In this final example we will just “Reverse” the chords. This time it is DbMajor/Cmajor which is then played the other way around with CMajor/DbMajor.

polytonality-orchestral-composing-chords-example

finally, we will employ a slash chord for an “Implied” cadence: This will also lighten the harmony:

Musical notation of a slash chord labeled 'G/C' with staff lines and symbols.
Illustration of a G/C slash chord as notated in music theory.

Here is the Chart:

polytonality-orchestral-composing-example

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Modern Jazz Fusion Chords part 2. Steely Dan, Dan Chord and Slash Chords

A Jazz RESPONSE TO THE LYDIAN MODE TRANSPOSED TO C [As Parent Key]

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The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILED ANALYSIS

Moving on from my last post on the Dorian Mode, I now look at how the Lydian Mode actually sounds.

Here’s how to transpose it to C as the parent key.

If F is a perfect 4th up from C:

Lydian, mode, in, C major, scale , music notation, example
How to Transpose the Lydian Mode to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation [Form F Lydian example]

Then what is C a perfect 4th up from: This would be G.

Lydian, mode, in, C major, scale , music notation, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

So we have a G Major scale starting on the note C:

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

You will hear straight away that the C Lydian has a Sharpened 4th and this is what gives it its distinctive flavour.

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

Chord ii is now Major,

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

Chord II now resolves nicely into chord Vb,

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

Another beautiful sound is the sharpened 4th which now becomes F#m7b5

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

Lydian Line with Chords

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

FOR GUITARISTS:

C Lydian Two Octaves

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, guitar, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

Chordal Flavour:

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, guitar, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

Lydian Guitar Lick:

Lydian, mode, transposed, to C , as, Parent, key, jazz, improvisation lesson, music, notation, LCC, guitar, example
The Lydian Mode transposed to C as the Parent Key for Composition and Improvisation

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Modes of the Major Scale and How to Transpose them http://www.jazzimproviser.com

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