BookatlasPiano Rabbit Hole: Improvisation Theory & Practice
9786 / 18210 · Workshop 80 — Harmonic Ambiguity and Delayed Identity: Sus Chords, No-3rd Voicings, Slash Chords, Pedals, and Letting the Listener Discover the Harmony← prev⊞ allnext →

80.106Connection to ear playing

When transcribing by ear, sometimes you cannot immediately tell:

major or sus?

slash chord or inversion?

tonic or dominant-quality vamp?

Do not force a label too early.

First identify:

bass

top note

important intervals

common tones

destination.

The correct harmonic interpretation may become obvious later.