23 Substitution of Major Ninth (no third) TBk2
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This chapter introduces an easy way to incorporate quartal harmony (chords comprised of fourths) into praise choruses & hymns. The unique & valuable symbol, C2Q (from bottom up: D.G.C), is introduced and explained. Another way to think of this is to use numbers in the scale. The scale degrees, 258, would also represent a quartal chord. Quartals sound particularly good with the third in the bass (eg., C2Q/E). Examples, exercises, assignments are offered.
Major ninth chords with no third occur with regularity in contemporary worship choruses. They are bright sounding. Like the rock alternating harmonies, they are helpful in projecting a degree of tension—even power. You probably won’t find them in any hymnal though.