The Power of Triads: Part 2 by Brandon Bernstein

In the last issue we began exploring triads in closed position and open position, along with suspensions, in all keys, and in all string sets. This issue, in an attempt to work on voice leading, we will begin applying triads to the first 8 measures to the popular Jerome Kern jazz standard All The Things You Are. Voice leading simply means to move individual chord voices smoothly from one chord to the next, with minimal movement, and is an essential skill for jazz musicians to have. Below I have provided a few different examples of voice leading over the first 8 measures of All The Things You Are. Example 1 uses closed position triads. Example 2 uses open triads and Example 3 uses open triads with suspensions. After learning these examples, try to continue the exercises through the rest of the tune and work on getting comfortable in all areas of the guitar neck. Apply these exercises to all the songs that you know. Soon you should notice vast improvement in both your comping and soloing. Experiment by starting the voice leading exercises on different inversions of the triads and moving in various directions. Next issue we will begin looking at harmonic substitutions using triads and continue to work on voice leading. Some of the great jazz guitarists that are masters of this concept that I recommend checking out are Ted Greene, George Van Eps, Ed Bickert, Jimmy Wyble, Mick Goodrick, Larry Koonse, and Ben Monder. Enjoy and remember to have fun and be creative!

Example 1 Voice Leading using closed position triads

Example 2 Voice Leading using open position triads

Example 3 Voice Leading using open position triads with suspensions