Author: allencole
Date: 2008-08-13 19:32
Just a couple of thoughts:
Dominant - This probably isn't the best name for your V (5, that is) chord, but its origins and mechanics were well-explained above. The Musicians' Institute book "Harmony and Theory" beautifully defines it as one type of chord that "creates anticipation" for the chord which follows.
Diminished - One correction. The diminished is not a dominant 9th with the root removed. The HALF-diminished (dizzy yet, DrH20?) chord is the one that answers that description. Guitarists regularly substitute half-diminished chord forms when they want a dominant 9th with the third on the bottom. (bet you're dizzy now...) They also frequently make the substitution described in the next paragraph.
However, the diminished chord is a very popular substitute for V7b9 chord in minor keys. Listen to Benny doing "Sing, Sing, Sing" or Dizzy doing "Bebop" to hear it in action. I'm not sure if I should offer any further technical explanation of this.
Spelling the diminished chord - Proper spelling of a C diminished is C-Eb-Gb-Bbb. But that could also be A diminished, spelled A-C-Eb-Gb, or Eb diminished, spelled Eb-Gb-Bbb-Dbb. To really blow your mind, a Gb diminished would be Gb-Bbb-Dbb-Fbb. Or D#-F#-A-C, F#-A-C-Eb and the cycle starts again. I agree that proper spelling is pretty much out the window, except when stacking up piano chords. I also agree that Klose was probably exposing you do different spellings, as does the Universal Method for Sax on p. 212 or 214. (I sure hope I spelled these anywhere near right)
Diminished chords are generally used to transition between chord changse that are already pretty smooth. Between a scale's diatonic chords, for example. A very nice piece was done on them by Guitar Player magazine a year or two ago.
Theory Books - They're getting better every year. The "Idiot's Guide" is great. Also "Edly's Music Theory for Practical People" and "Harmony and Theory" from the Musician's Institute. Authors are getting better all the time at verbalizing this extremely abstract subject. If you want a crash course, get "Classical Music for Dummies" and read Ch.11 - "The Dreaded Music Theory Chapter."
Allen Cole
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The Clarinet BBoard
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