The LJS Podcast is the podcast where you get weekly jazz tips, interviews, stories and advice for becoming a better jazz musician! Hosting the show is the jazz musician behind learnjazzstandards.com, author, and entrepreneur Brent Vaartstra, who’s one goal is to answer any question about playing jazz music you may have. Jazz can be a challenging music to learn and play, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. Each episode features a specific musical challenge that jazz students may come across, where it is discussed and answered. Special jazz guests frequent the show, sharing their expertise on an array of different musical subject matter. Listeners are invited to call in with their jazz questions to the podcast hotline, where it could get answered on a future LJS Podcast episode. Join thousands of other listeners getting free jazz education every week!
https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/podcast
episode 61: What Are Quartal Voicings and How Do You Use Them?
In this episode, Brent addresses a question from an Inner Circle member about quartal voicings and their application in chord progressions. Brent breaks down the concept, explaining how they differ from traditional chord voicings by being stacked in fourths rather than thirds.
He explores their versatility, emphasizing their common use in modal playing and how they can enhance chord progressions, even in traditional diatonic harmony settings like two-five-one progressions.
Throughout the episode, Brent offers practical insights and examples, demonstrating how quartal voicings can add depth and texture to playing while also acknowledging their inherent ambiguity. Drawing on examples from jazz legends like McCoy Tyner, he encourages experimenting with quartal voicings in various musical contexts, adding that understanding the sound we aim to produce is key to using quartal voicings effectively.
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership
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