Re: Still frustrated with chords

[S L Raymond]

Paul Scott wrote:

> S L Raymond wrote:
>
> > Paul Scott wrote:
>
>
> > > > For the latter, I can find no solution.
> f:maj7.3-  actually works (even if it seems backwards from the way we 
> were thinking).

Sure, but jazz performers might be confused when reading a chart that 
contains an 'Fmaj7b3' chord.  Functionally, it shouldn't be treated as a 
major chord with a flattened third, but as a minor chord with a "color" 
note.

> > > > Plus, I can't even figure out how to achieve a simple sus chord.  
> > > > "<root>:sus" doesn't work.
> > > >
> > > > Aren't there just some simple rules I can follow?
> sus does need a numeric modifier.
Again, in a Jazz chart there are certain preferences.  When an 
improvisor reads "sus" without a modifier, he is allowed to treat it as 
an 11th chord, a sus4 with an added 12th, a major triad one whole step 
down, etc. depending on personal taste.

> > > This may not answer all questions but have you read all of these:
> > >
> > > 5.14 Popular music
> > >
> > >    * 5.14.1 Chord names
> > >    * 5.14.2 Chords mode
> > >    * 5.14.3 Printing chord names
> > >
> > > Appendix C Notation manual details 
> > > <cid:part5.04050100.05080908@ultrasw.com>
> > >
> > >    * C.1 Chord name chart <cid:part6.08000000.03090503@ultrasw.com>
> >
> >
> > That doesn't help me at all.  I'm not entering chords on the staff, 
> > but by name in a \chordmode block.
>
>
> So am I.  I have done both lead sheets as well as solos with the chord 
> names written above.  I'm not completely happy with the docs in this 
> area but I've managed to figure out most of what I need.  If you read 
> the docs carefully you will see that the chord name stuff works in the 
> same way as the actual chord stuff and is therefore documented (maybe 
> not as well as we would like but that's where we com in).
>
> > Nothing in the manual addresses naming conventions in this context.  
> > How do people writing Jazz lead sheets deal with this?  Plus, I'm not 
> > happy with the nomenclature.  For example, there is no plain "sus."
>
>
> Yes apparently these all require an interval modifier as you have 
> noticed.  These are the modifiers from the scheme code which I just 
> looked to help answer your question:
>
> > Only "sus4," "sus2," etc. (define-public default-chord-modifier-list
> >   `((m . ,minor-modifier)
> >     (min . ,minor-modifier)
> >     (aug . , aug-modifier)
> >     (dim . , dim-modifier)
> >     (maj . , maj7-modifier)
> >     (sus . , sus-modifier)))
>
>
> Now I see that this and more is covered in:
>
>
>        5.14.2 Chords mode
>
> >  And I'd rather omit the "add" in chords like "C7/add9" and 
> > "D6/add9," preferring instead "C9" and "D69" (where 6 and 9 are 
> > stacked).
>
>
> I agree and I guess this is where you have to build your own - which I 
> have not done yet.  This and other things have examples in the 
> regression tests around:
Perhaps a techie could present us with a script that does conversions?