Approach To Jazz Harmony — An

: Good jazz harmony prioritizes how individual voices (notes) within the chord move. Chromatic "inner lines" can make even the most complex changes sound logical and melodic.

Modern jazz harmony (post-1950s) shifted away from strict key centers toward "modal" thinking.

: In jazz, a "C major" triad is rarely enough. The basic unit is the 7th chord (maj7, m7, 7, m7b5). An Approach to Jazz Harmony

: Adding the 9th, 11th, and 13th from the parent scale provides a lush, orchestral sound.

Once the basic 7th chords are established, jazz musicians add "tension" to create more sophisticated textures. : Good jazz harmony prioritizes how individual voices

At its heart, jazz harmony evolved from the Western tonal system but added "extensions" to every chord.

: Chords may move by steps or thirds rather than jumping around the circle of fifths. : In jazz, a "C major" triad is rarely enough

: Replacing a dominant 7th chord with another 7th chord a tritone away (e.g., Db7 instead of G7). It works because they share the same guide tones. 3. The Modal Pivot