AboutD C DowDell Expertise D C DowDell will answer questions about Jazz improvisation, composition, chord voicing, scales and modes, practice techniques and ear training. Professor DowDell also enjoys discussions on Jazz musicology and the evolution of style.
Experience D C DowDell is a professional Jazz pianist/composer who currently teaches online Jazz studies at A Passion for Jazz!. He has been teaching music for over 25 years at 2 major universities, several community colleges as well as accepting students for private study.
As an educator, D C DowDell has published articles at the university level and recently published Basic Musicianship a primary reference text for pianists, vocalists and composers.
D C also maintains an active performance schedule, having appeared with Rosemary Clooney, Marilyn McCoo, Bobby Vinton to name just a few. Generally, D C stays in the Southern California area with Jazz ensemble or as a solo artist.
Organizations American Federation of Musicians
National Music Teachers Association
International Association of Jazz Educators
Education/Credentials Bachelors of Music Education from UCLA Masters of Music Composition from UNT
Expert: D C DowDell Date: 4/17/2008 Subject: Music..
Question Hi,
Just wondering, if I were to play a few chords not found in the original key in a song, and solo over them with chromatic notes, for about how long could I do this, before I would be changing keys?
Also, for about how long could I play out of key chords, before I would be changing keys?
Could I use out of key chords often in a song? Like for ex-Could I still be in the keys of Cmaj/Amin, if I used an A# power chord and an F# power chord in every measure of the song?
If I play chromatic notes or out of key scales over diatonic chords and play the scales by itself over no chords in a song, would I still remain in the original key?
Please let me know,
thank you!
Sarah
Answer Hello Sarah and thank you for contacting me through AllExperts.com.
There is but one Key for most tunes, but there are sometimes many Tone Centers. The actual chords are part of progressions that are built on each Tone Center. We solo over the these Tone Centers, not the individual chords.
Example: The progression is: Em, A7, Dm, G7, C.
While we are over the Em and A7 chords, we could use the D Major scale since that is where this progression is pointing. Then while we are over the Dm, G7, C chords, we could use the C Major scale because that is where this progression is pointing.
