Rootless Shells

[krooner]

Hi guys,
so for a while I've been practicing rootless shells in all keys to the tune of "Autumn Leaves". The 4 notes spread over left and right hands are : -
b7 b3 / 5 9
3 b7 / 9 6
7 3 / 5 9
3 6 / 9 5.

If anyone would like to recommend alternative inversions, I'd be very grateful.

Cheers.

[jazz oud]

Hey Krooner,

As I understand it, "shell" refers to the left hand root-third and root-seventh combinations. Your examples are just simple rootless voicings.

I apologize if I am stating things you already know:

For rootless voicings, the strongest ones are those that have the 3rd or 7th on the bottom, as you are already doing. For tonic and subdominant chords (I, IV, i, and iv) you can substitute the 6th for the major 7th:

ii7: b7 b3 5 9
V7: 3 b7 9 6
I: 6 3 5 9
IV: 3 6 9 5

iiø7: b7 b3 b5 1
V7: 3 b7 b9 5
i: 6 b3 5 9

For the other tones, 9ths and roots are interchangeable and 5ths and 6ths are interchangeable (unless you have already used the 6th in place of the 7th) for different colors. Note that I used the 1 instead of the 9 on the iiø7 chord, since the b9 in the key is dissonant and the natural 9 is outside the key (not that you couldn't use it, but it would be a bit weird in this context. It would work better in an interior voice).

The inversions with 5/6 or 1/9 on the bottom tend to work better as passing chords in order to vary the direction of voice leading or to smooth out a leap.

for example:
ii: b7 b3 5 9
V7: 5 9 3 b7
I: 3 7 5 9

or

ii: b3 b7 9 5
V: 9 6 b7 3
I: 7 3 9 5

Sustained passages with 5/6 and 1/9 on the bottom tend to sound weak and/or bland.

You can also play all of these in close voicings in one hand:
3579 (or 3569, 3679, 3561, 3671, 3571)
7935 (or 6935, 7936, 6135, 7136, 7135)
1357 (or 1356, 1367, 9357, 9356, 9367)
5713 (or 5613, 6713, 5793, 5693, 6793)

[freejazzlessons.com]

Originally Posted by krooner

Hi guys,
so for a while I've been practicing rootless shells in all keys to the tune of "Autumn Leaves". The 4 notes spread over left and right hands are : -
b7 b3 / 5 9
3 b7 / 9 6
7 3 / 5 9
3 6 / 9 5.

If anyone would like to recommend alternative inversions, I'd be very grateful.

Cheers.

That's a good start. Just to build off what you already have...you could add 1 note to the top 2 voicings.

b7 b3 / 5 9 11
3 b7 / 9 6 R

[krooner]

Many thanks J.O.
That gives me plenty to go at.

Cheers,
Keith

[Aquatist]

Here's a great video on rootless voicings. It is simple and to the point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWa1_iKfPrY

Also, there is a downloadable PDF on his website with more to practice. Good luck.

[krooner]

Originally Posted by freejazzlessons.com

That's a good start. Just to build off what you already have...you could add 1 note to the top 2 voicings.

b7 b3 / 5 9 11
3 b7 / 9 6 R

Hi,
Thanks for the info.
To be honest, I've been familiar with this site for some time, and have been practicing the 10 chord AL exercise. I've found it extremely helpful.

Cheers, Aquatist,
I'll be looking over that video later today.

Thanks again.
Kj

[krooner]

Hey guys,
Continuing practicing shells.
Hope it's not too obvious a question, but can I add the inversion - b3 b7 9 5. Sounds ok, yeah?

Cheers.
Kj

[jazz oud]

Originally Posted by krooner

Hey guys,
Continuing practicing shells.
Hope it's not too obvious a question, but can I add the inversion - b3 b7 9 5. Sounds ok, yeah?

Cheers.
Kj

Yes:

Originally Posted by jazz oud

ii: b3 b7 9 5

[krooner]

Whoops !
Sorry, J.O.
Thanks for bothering to reply.

Keith