Jazz theorists - please read this post!!

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

I need some help on a particular chord and it's usage - the 7b13. It is not spelled the same as an augmented (+5) chord, just as the 7#11 is not the same nor used the same as a flat 5 (b5) chord (the 7#11 is extremely effective as a substitution for the IV chord, whereas the b5 is not). What is the key way a 7b13 is used? Even though an augmented is usually a transition chord, I would imagine the 7b13 has other very significant uses that you wouldn't use an augmented for. Could someone please elaborate, with some examples of particular songs that are standards where you would use that chord. If however, this is not different in use from an augmented, then I would like to know that as well. So, basically, please tell me everything you know about this chord, your preferred steel voicings, and it's real-life uses, that is, specific songs you apply it in. And you if don't do it on C6, but play it on guitar or piano, then tell me about that as well. Thank you. .. Jeff

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Briefly, if you follow the voice leading of the V7b13->I, the 3rd of V goes to the root of I and the dom7 and b13 of V "sandwich" the 3rd of I. So it's a very powerful half step up and down to the resolution.

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

Chas, that's true, but it is also true of a 7aug5. What, if anything, makes the 7b13 different in it's usage? As I said earlier, the 7#11 is clearly different from a 7b5. Isn't the same true here as well?

Mike Delaney · From: Fort Madison, IA

The difference is in what scale they come from. An augmented 5th comes from a whole tone scale, a flat 13th comes from altered dominant. C Alt=C,Db,Eb,Fb,Gb,Ab,Bb.

This is a Db Jazz Minor scale, played from 7th step to 7th step, and is the essence of the Charlie Parker sound (although he learned it from Monk).

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

You are right Jeff. It is diffenent. Curly Chalker used it. Like this, say you want to resolve into D7-9 on the 12th fret using P5, you go up to 13 fret, press P5 and flat the A with a knee, then roll down to the 12 fret while releasing the knee lever. I like that change.
Is that what you meant?....al

Sam Minnitti · From: New Rochelle, NY

Hi Jeff,

Usually when the chord is spelled 7b13, that means that you have a major triad as the basis of the chord, say C-E-G. When the chord is spelled 7#5, that would imply an aug triad as the basis, C-E-G# and the natural 5 would not be present.

Therefore, the underlying scale you would play on a 7b13 chord would include a natural 5 (C mixolydian with a lowered 6) and the underlying scale on the 7#5 would not. (C whole-tone scale)

The natural 5 is left in a 7b13 to create tension with the b6.

The 7b13 is often proceeded by a m7b5 (ii V in a minor key)

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www.samminnitti.com

[This message was edited by Sam Minnitti on 13 August 2002 at 03:24 PM.]

[This message was edited by Sam Minnitti on 13 August 2002 at 03:30 PM.]

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

Right, in playing over a C7b13, you could use the scale fragment G Ab Bb C, where on a C7+5 you would use G# A Bb C and avoid using the unaltered G.

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · From: Southaven, MS, USA

To Jeff Lampert: I hope I know where you're coming from, but b13 is the same as +5 depending where you are in the staff. When I write for the orchestra I use 15ths and 22nds because this tells me where I am in the bass and treble clefs. It's not like saying 8va or 8vb (for an octave up or down). As an example, in my CD--and the song, Tenderly, I use this chord in resolving to the first minor 9th: from bottom: I-III-VII-+IX-b13 (I play with five fingers). This turns out to be a 7th+9b13 resolving to -9th. Also, to break the monotony of tri-tone subs, I use paired triads getting back to the tonic. This is difficult to explain without staves. If you like, I'll fax you some specifics. Best, Hugh www.steelguitarbyhughjeffreys.com

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

chas smith R.I.P. · From: Encino, CA, USA

Quick example of how to use it, as a passing chord. G7 to C Maj 7,9, right hand, keys, F, A, B, E -> F, Ab, B, Eb -> E, G or A, B, D.

bob grossman · From: Visalia CA USA

Jeff:

Look at my last post on the tritone thread. Comment?

Sam Minnitti · From: New Rochelle, NY

Hi Jeff, here are 3 examples that come to mind.

1. Last bar of the bridge on All the Things You Are. It is a C7b13, G#/Ab in the melody. It acts as a V7b13 turnaround to the i (Fmi7). The chord that proceeds the C7b13 is an Emaj7 (I of a minor ii V) The Emaj7 is a nice bright surprise as the ear was expecting an Emin7. Also, the Emaj7 transitions nicely to the C7b13 (better than an Emin7 would)

2. Quite Nights of Quite Stars; bar 12, A7b13. Proceeded by an Emin7 and resolves to a D7. Once again, ii V, but resolves to a I7 . (D7) So the b13 can resolve up to the 3rd of D7. And the 3rd of the b13 chord can resolve down to the b7 of the I7.

3. How Insensitive; bar 14, F#7b13, proceeded by a C#m7b5 and resolves to a Bmin-maj7. So here you have a ii V resolving to a I min-maj7. So the b13 becomes the 3rd of the I min-maj.

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www.samminnitti.com

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

Sam, why in your opinion is the 7b13 chord a better choice than a 7aug5 in those examples? Thanks a lot .. Jeff

[This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 14 August 2002 at 08:06 AM.]

Sam Minnitti · From: New Rochelle, NY

Hi Jeff,

For me, it has to do with what I would play; both for comping and for improvising.

When I see an aug chord, I would tend to play something a little more diatonic to that particular augmented sound, and would think less in terms of resolution than I would if it is shown as a 7b13, where I am thinking more about what came before, and what is coming after.

Generally, I think of aug chords as passing chords, same would be true of diminished chords, more than I would a 7b13, which I think of as an alternated Dom7 chord that is about to set up a resolution.

I say that about diminished chords, because the same is true. What I would play over a Bdim for example, would be more for that moment or in passing, than what I would play if I saw its dom-sub, G7b9.

If I had to generalize, I would say that the use of aug and dim symbols when writing chords tend to imply the use of the basic aug or dim triad kind of sound, maybe one would say more ‘old fashion’, so if that is what is desired, then that is the best way to write it. Otherwise, I think the altered dominant approach is a good way to go.

So to maybe answer your question, I think that the better choice depends on what ‘sound’ you are going for. And as a matter of fact, you have to hope that jazz players will honor a request for an aug or dim chord. They may the first couple times through, but you can almost count on them sub’ing in everything under the sun for those aug and dim chords as the choruses roll by.

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www.samminnitti.com

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

Thanks everyone. I'm gonna play around with some of the things you said. Sam M., you make interesting points. I'll be checking out those songs. I sure wish John Steele would offer his thoughts.

[This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 15 August 2002 at 05:50 AM.]

Bengt Erlandsen · From: Brekstad, NORWAY

To make a blues a little more like jazz I have used the 7b13 this way when going from the I7 to IV7. I use this on the 6string and my S12ExtE9. On 10string E9 I only play the top 3 notes. On C6 or 12string universal I don't know.



C13   - notes low to high C  Bb E  A


C7b13 - notes low to high C  Bb E  Ab


F9    - notes low to high C  A  Eb G








E9


    C13 C7b13 F9 or C13 C7b13 F9


F#----------------------------------------


Eb----------------------------------------


G#------------------12B-12----11----------


E-------------------12--12----11----------


B----8A---8a--7a----12L-12L---11L---------


G#---8----8---7---------------------------


F#----------------------------------------


E-----------------------------------------


D----8----8---7---------------------------


B-----------------------------------------


 


note "a" = half pedal


  


       C13 C7b13 F9


F#----------------------------


Eb----------------------------


G#----------------------------


E------4R---4----3------------


B------4a---4a---3a-----------


G#----------------------------


F#-----4----4----3------------


E-----------------------------


D-----------------------------


B-----------------------------

Bengt

[This message was edited by Bengt Erlandsen on 15 August 2002 at 07:25 AM.]

Sam Minnitti · From: New Rochelle, NY

Hi Jeff,

It was nice talking with you this morning.

You really know your theory, and more importantly, can apply it to your jazz steel playing. I look forward to getting together sometime.

Sam

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www.samminnitti.com

William Steward · From: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Sam...your definition of the b13 and examples you gave were excellent. It cleared up one of my many foggy areas of theory and 'correct' notation. I went looking for examples in my fakebooks just to elucidate the subject for myself but was having trouble coming up with examples. This is possibly due to the incomplete or incorrect notation in most fakebooks. I was beginning to feel sorry for this chord since it seems underutilized, but after playing a few examples for myself I can see that it contains a bit more tension (with the 5 and b6) than many pop composers would want - blessed are the cheesmakers for they shall inherit the earth. Once I fooled around with it for a while I realized that I play it sometimes voiced with the major 9 on top for one particular colour...as you say it is a matter of the feel you intend. Jeff thanks for the question.

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

Jeff,
I can't really add anything substantial to the information that Sam and the others have put forth... it all reads well to me.
Pointing out that the 5th is still intact is the most important thing, I guess. I also use the b13 chord alot in the manner that Bengt describes.
-John

bob grossman · From: Visalia CA USA

All right..all right!

Show me a 7b13 on C6. Seems a C chord would be C E G Bb D (no 11) Ab. Can't play the Bb and Ab both...same strings. So, what is some other way?

Dave Birkett · From: Oxnard, CA, USA

Is it necessary to play the 5th degree when comping? Or are we talking more about notes when soloing?

John Steele · From: Renfrew, Ontario, Canada

A I-IV in G for Bob G



  G6 G13  G7b13  C9


1---------------------


2---------------------


3--7--4----4L----3L---


4--7------------------


5-----4----4-----3----


6--7------------------


7-----4(8--4(8---3(8--


8---------------------


9---------------------


10-7-------------3(8--

-John
p.s. Dave, imho, No. In alot of cases it might be better not to actually.

[This message was edited by John Steele on 15 August 2002 at 06:19 PM.]

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

Ok. I gave it a shot. Some initial thoughts. All responses are welcome.

A voicing that includes the 5 and b13 - for a C7b13 (actually C9b13), try fret 10 (makes sense, no!?), pedal 5 AND the knee lever that raises the 4th string 1/2 tone. That gives you the b13, while the 5th is on string 8. (FWIW, I don't do parallel pulls, so my 8th string never follows my 4th) What makes this a good position is that you can play a Gm7b5 at fret 10 with pedal 6, and move right to the C7b13. I naturally use the 9th note interchangeably in just about anything, with no problem. It doesn't seem to me that there would be a problem including the 9th note in a C7b13. I just want to confirm with you guys. Also, to my ears, this chord is not as melodic sounding as a 7#11 or 9#11, which also has the dissonance with the 5th note. Perhaps an augmented 5 (b13) naturally sounds harsher than a flat 5 (#11). I guess when you think about, a diminished chord (which has a b5) is a more musically pleasant sound than an augmented chord, so the dissonance would also be. Right?

[This message was edited by Jeff Lampert on 16 August 2002 at 08:19 AM.]

Jeff Lampert · From: queens, new york city

bob grossman · From: Visalia CA USA

Thanks, John and Jeff.

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