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Guide Tones by Joshua Barnhart
Guide Tones by Joshua Barnhart… Welcome back it’s been a while. This time we’re going to jump into ‘Guide Tones’. “What are guide tones?” you ask. Well guide tones are notes out side of the root that define the chord being played. It has more to do with 7th chords, as this is typically a jazz concept. Guide tones are the 2 notes in the chord that are what tells you the type and quality of the chord ie. Major, Minor, Dominant, ect.
So for any chord we have the root, we have the fifth, we have a third, and a seventh. The fifth is a support tone for the root. It doesn’t do much to help define the chord unless it’s a diminished or augmented chord. So for today we’re going to drop the 5th from the chord. The root is what labels the chord. If it’s a Cmaj7 then C is the root. As bass players we get that concept. But simply playing a C and one of the other note in the chord won’t tell you what type of chord it is. So the root sets up the name for the chord and the guide tones name it. These 3 note chords are called ‘Shell Voicings’. They give you the most information about the chord with the least amount of notes.
Lets take a look at some of these shell voicings. These are all in root position:
The guide tones are the 3rd and 7th of each chord. Properly voice-leading shows that almost all of the tones are step wise. Sometimes you have to change the order of the 3rd or 7th to get it to do that.
This concept works well when you’re trying to arrange for horns, voice, or what ever the instrument may be. If you have a limited amount of instruments and have to cover a lot of ground shell voicings are the way to go. Also building these guide tone lines are a great foundation for writing a melody that smoothly moves in and out of each chord. And if you’re playing with a group of musicians you can make it interesting by using one of the guide tones lines as your bass line.
Guide tones are also the reason that tri-tone inversions work. So take for instance this G7 chord in the example. It’s a G B and F. lets drop the root and concentrate on the B and F. The G tells us that B is the third. Now with out the G we have no reference. All we have is a tri-tone between B and F. we also have the same interval between F and B. Now if we make D the root. The D tells us the F is the third. Now it’s a D dominant chord. It doesn’t matter which note is in the root. The power of the dominant chord is in the tri-tone, and how it resolves. Either way the B moves up to C and the F down to E.
Gear News
New Gear: Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Alberto Rigoni Signature Bass, the VPR5 by Gaetano Costanzo!
Internationally renowned bassist ALBERTO RIGONI (soloist, BAD AS, Vivaldi Metal Project, TwinSpirits, etc.) is proud to announce the release of his signature bass VPR5 made by renowned Italian luthier Gaetano Costanzo!
The bass is entirely handmade in Italy, without the use of CNC or other machinery, and has rather special features. The VPR is a 5-string bass (but also available as a 4-string) with 30 frets, Seymour Duncan pickups, Music Man Alnico style, passive electronics (volume, tone and a switch to select series/parallel/single-coil mode), alder body, and American maple neck and fingerboard. Gotoh tuners that ensure perfect intonation. The bass is totally painted white (nitro finish) but other colors can be requested. The VPR has a weight of about 2.9 kg and suitable for any genre.
For more information contact Gaetanobass77@gmail.com or visit online at www.instagram.com/gaetanocostanzoluthier or www.facebook.com/GaetanoCostanzoLuthier
Bass Videos
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Bassist Graham Stanush…
Return to Dust is keeping Grunge alive and well! They have a new self-titled album that went out on May 3rd, 2024 and will be super busy promoting this project in the near future.
Graham Stanush is the bass powerhouse driving their sound and adding vocals to the mix. Join me as we hear all about Graham’s musical journey, details about the new album, how he gets his sound and their plans for the future.
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Bass Videos
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
CrystalBright Rombo Picks
PR SamplePlaying bass with a pick is still a touchy subject in our community. I believe you should be able to use whatever you need to get your sound. Even though I mostly play with my fingers, I like to check out innovative new picks that might have something new to offer, sonically speaking.
Judith and Carlos from Rombo recently contacted me about a new material called CrystalBright that they have been researching for the last 12 months and offered to send some prototype picks. After trying them out, I put together this video with my findings.
For more info check out @rombopicks
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This Week’s Top 10 Basses on Instagram
Check out our top 10 favorite basses on Instagram this week…
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Gear
New Joe Dart Bass From Sterling By Music Man
Sterling by Music Man introduces the Joe Dart Artist Series Bass (“Joe Dart”), named after and designed in collaboration with the celebrated Vulfpeck bassist.
Above photo credit: JORDAN THIBEAUX
This highly-anticipated model marks the debut of the Dart bass in the Sterling by Music Man lineup, paying homage to the Ernie Ball Music Man original that all funk players know and love. The bass embodies many of the original model’s distinctive features, from its iconic minimalist design to the passive electronics.
The design process prioritized reliability, playability, and accessibility at the forefront. Constructed from the timeless Sterling body, the Dart features a slightly smaller neck profile, offering a clean tone within a comfortable package. The body is crafted from soft maple wood for clarity and warmth while the natural finish emphasizes the simple yet unique look.
Engineered for straightforward performance, this passive bass features a ceramic humbucking bridge pickup and a single ‘toaster’ knob for volume control. Reliable with a classic tone, it’s perfect for playing in the pocket. The Dart is strung with the all-new Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flatwound Electric Bass Strings for the smoothest feel and a mellow sound.
The Sterling by Music Man Joe Dart Bass is a special “Timed Edition” release, exclusively available for order on the Sterling by Music Man website for just one month. Each bass is made to order, with the window closing on May 31st and shipping starting in November. A dedicated countdown timer will indicate the remaining time for purchase on the product page. Additionally, the back of the headstock will be marked with a “2024 Crop” stamp to commemorate the harvest year for this special, one-of-a-kind release.
The Joe Dart Bass is priced at $399.99 (MAP) and can be ordered globally at https://sterlingbymusicman.com/products/joe-dart.
To learn more about Joe Dart, visit the official Vulfpeck artist site here https://www.vulfpeck.com/.
Interview With Bassist Graham Stanush
Review: CrystalBright Rombo Picks
Preparing for Performance with Dr. Randy Kertz
Interview With Bassist Erick “Jesus” Coomes
