Less is More. More or Less

In this issue, I'm going to share my arrangement of the song "Ebb Tide". Don't worry if you are not familiar with this tune, because we are focusing only on the left-hand chord changes. Download these files to get started.

Chord chart: ebbtide.pdf
Audio: ebbtide.mp3

I have taken a song with a lot of chord changes (one per measure) and added even more in the theme (two per measure). The left hand arpeggiates each chord from low to high to low (1-2-3-2), each note being an eighth. Excluding the sustained notes at the end of each phrase (G7) and the final C, the left-hand will play a constant flow of notes.

What I want to draw your attention to are the chords marked with an asterisk ( * ). These are chord substitutions which replace, what would otherwise be a repeat of, the other chord in the same measure (usually the first). They are probably already in your vocabulary and add variety and extend the harmony.

In the bridge, starting at measure 11, I make extensive use of chord inversions. You could play these chords in root position, but using the inversions adds to the tension implied by the melody - keeping G, G#, & A in the bass, before resolving on the C.

The tag starts at measure 26 (CMaj7). Look at the diagrams and notice that a low C is maintained in the bass figures. Also, watch the leading tone on string 10 (11 for Grand) move in half-step increments, from fret 7 to fret 3. This is accomplished using the inversions Dm7/C, DØ7/C, and an alternate chord form for the C.

Learn these inversions and try them in your own music.

Chris
www.ChrisCrain.com