Piano Voicing Overview, p.

142

Piano Voicing Overview

Practice until you can play it without error or hesitation at the indicated tempo. Practice in
segments (two measures at a time, if necessary) until you can play the entire passage. When
comfortable with the harmony, try playing different styles: swing, bossa, samba, pop, funk, etc.

1. Basic voicings with good voice leading shown through key center cycle:

q Dm 7

.
c
.

&

Dm 7

&

Cm aj 7

Fm aj7

B7

E7

Am 7

b
#

Am 7

b9
A7 b 13

? c ..

A7 9

G7

G7

Cm aj7

Fm aj 7

B7

E7

b #

..

..

2. Basic voicings with good voice leading shown through key center cycle:
Gm 7

Fm aj 7

B m aj7

E7

& b ..

b #

? b ..

Dm 7

D7 9

Gm 7

& b

?b

C7

Fm aj 7

B m aj 7

E7

A7

A7

Dm 7

b9
b

C7

D7 13

b
#

..

..

Piano Voicing Overview, p. 143

3. Example no.1 shown with drop 2 open voicings through key center cycle. Inner voices are
more easily heard. Some altered dominants have been used, but voice leading remains the
same:
Dm 7

.
.
&

? ..

G7

Dm 7

&

Cm aj7

Fm aj 7

B7

G7

Cm aj7

Fm aj 7

B7

E7

A7 9

Am 7

E7

Am 7

b
#

b9
A7 b 13

..

..

4. Example no.2 shown with drop 2 open voicings through key center cycle. Inner voices are
more easily heard. Some altered dominants have been used, but voice leading remains the
same:
Gm 9

& b ..
? b ..
Gm 9

& b

?b

#9 b9
C7 b 13 C7 b 13

b b

Fm aj7

#9
b

b9
b

C7 13 C7 13

b b

B bm aj 7

Fm aj 7

B m aj 7

E7

#9 b9
A7 b 13 A7 b 13

E7

Dm 9

A7 13 A7 13

Dm 9

#9
b

b9
b

#9
b9
D7 b 13 D7 b 13

#9
b

b9
b

D7 13 D7 13

N
#

..
..

Piano Voicing Overview, p. 144

5. Basic left hand voicings useful when playing with a bass player. Right hand can play single
notes, octaves, triad shapes, upper extensions, or single line solos over the top.

G13 G13 9

Dm 9

& ..

? ..

Cm aj 7

Gm 9

& b ..

? b ..

Dm 9

C13

Fm aj 7

w
ww
w

#9
b

G7 13

Cm aj 7

.. ..
b b
b
.. .. b
Gm 9

#9
b

C7 13

..

b
b b

.. N

..

w
ww
ww

..

Fm aj7

..

w
wwww

..

6. Sample F blues chorus shown using basic left hand chords, octave right hand melody,
typical comping rhythms:
F7

.
b
& .
.
? b b ..
b

B 7

&b
?b

.
& b .
.
? b ..

B 7

.
.
b ...

J

J
#9
b b.

F7 13

b .
b bn ...

b
b

C9sus4

n
n

b
J

B 7

.
.
...

w
w
ww
w
#9
C7 b 13

F7

b
J
b
J
b
J
J

F7

#9
b

C7 13

F7

.
b
.
J
b
..

b
.
n

J
b9
F7
Eb7.
D7
b b 13

.
b J
J

b
b ..
. b
J
J
#9
D7 b 5

b
b
J
b J

#9
G7 b 13

J
n b
J

#9
b

F7 13

b .
b .

J
b .
..
J
b
b

Gm 9

n
n

#9
C7 b 13F7

b
b
b
b

C9sus4