17 Upper Structures Now to find some interesting two-handed voicings for dominant chords as well as melodic minor derived chords. These are called Upper Structures as the right hand generally plays notes from the extensions or alterations of these chords. These voicings are easy to play and remember as they consist of a simple triad over two notes (a tritone) in the left hand. Fig. 28 shows the most common voicings for various dominant 7th chords. Fig. 28The first chord is a simple 7b9 voicing derived form playing a major triad a minor 3rd below the root, over the 3rd & 7th in the left hand. This can be used in major II-V-I applications with diminished harmony in the V chord. The second is a good altered voicing (a triad a MAJOR 3rd below the root over the 3rd and 7th). The third chord (triad a tritone away from the root) suits either diminished or altered harmony, while the last (triad a tone above the root) is a simple 7#11 chord. These voicings may appear very simple, but the fact is, they sound good! Of course many other alterations can be highlighted apart from those listed here, by superimposing other major AND minor triads over a 3rd and 7th. The reader is encouraged at this point to investigate other excellent publications to illustrate these, such as The Jazz Piano book by Mark Levine.1 However, these listed here are the most common that are used and are a good starting point to equip you with a decent vocabulary in two-handed voicings. The triads in these voicings can be inverted for further colour, but be careful of the doubled 3rd in the first chord. This voicing sounds better where the 3rd in the right hand is kept near the top of the chord. Another good point about this chord is that, as it suits diminished harmony, the entire voicing (or at least, the triad), can be transposed up by minor 3rd intervals (Fig 29a), for variation. In fact, ANY chord that can be found in the diminished scale can be used, noticeably, dominant 7th and minor 7th chords (Fig 29b). Diminished 7th and Half-diminished 7th chords are also available. Fig 29a Fig 29b1Mark Levine, The Jazz Piano Book, Sher Music ISBN 0-9610741-5-1, pp. 109-124
