New Recording: Louisiana

[the captain]

I've recorded a new version of my song "Louisiana." It was done live in one pass, me singing and playing acoustic guitar, then overdubbed with one harmony vocal. So it's pretty sparse, but it's a tune I've always liked and never known quite what to do with. Listen and freely download from www.myspace.com/thebeaumondes

[matt-zeus]

Quite pleasant indeed, some nice jazzy chords

[the captain]

Thank you, sir. Jazz chords indeed: no matter how much I try to hide it, my jazz theory comes through. A guy needs extensions! I see you checked out "House," too. It's one of my all-time favorites I've done.

[matt-zeus]

Do you have any tips on 'jazz chords' and integration of, either on guitar or piano?

[the captain]

Do you have any tips on 'jazz chords' and integration of, either on guitar or piano?

Honestly I don't even think of them as particularly jazz chords, but yeah, I suppose most anything with extensions is thought of that way. The basic truth is you can add extensions to every chord in every key without it causing problems as long as you're adding the right ones. And as a general rule, the V is a good place to pile on a little tension, just as when you're using chords without extensions, you often make a V7 instead of just a V. If you're looking for subtlety, slip in a major chord with a 6th, or a major 7 with a 6th. Of course any quirk to the melody can be incorporated into alterations, too, such as, say, a flatted fifth in the V chord, making (for example) a V7(b5) or V9(b5) or whatever. I think the main rule is go with your ear and don't toss in the kitchen sink. But you'll find going with your ear changes as you get more used to fuller chords.

[matt-zeus]

Hmm, I use lots of 7s and 6s and 2s (I don't think thats the technical term), I know things by ear but my theory isn't very good. I used to listen to a lot of Steely Dan and they had some very splendid chord progressions, a lot of my earlier stuff was very fiddly and chordy but I seem to have simplified over time, my songs have also got shorter over time too, age or laziness I guess.

[the captain]

2nds is a term some people use, but it's also called "add9." (At least among jazz musicians, just saying 9 implies the 7 is there. When you're calling it a

• 2 or
• add9, it means you're using that note without the 7th. Shorter and simpler is always good in my book. But I don't know that simpler means the avoidance of the color extensions bring.