The Church Pianist: What is An Augmented Chord?

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The word "augment" means to make larger.


That is exactly what happens when a chord
is augmented...it is made a half step greater.

The augmented chord adds a touch of
"suspense or anticipation" to a song.

An augmented chord is just like a major
chord (in root position) with a raised fifth.

For example:

The C major chord in root position = C E G

The C augmented chord = C E G#

Any major chord can be augmented within
a song as long as it sounds right.

Alot of hymns use the augmented chord.

See the music image below. (Then read the following).

Did you find the augmented chords in the examples?

If not, here are the answers:


(There was only one in each example).

Moment by Moment: on the word "by"

Thank You Lord: on the word "for"

In part two, I will share how to use
the augmented chord as a chord substitution in
hymns.


Part Two can be found at:
http://thechurchpianist.com/chords/the-church-pianist-part-two-augmented-chord-substitution/

The Church Pianist: Using Chord Substitutions for..... More About Jesus

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I enjoy using chord substitutions for a hymn

that would normally sound rather plain.

The hymn, More About Jesus, has a rather

mundane bass line. The whole song mainly

consists of the one (I) and five (V) chord.

This particular hymn is written in A flat.

Therefore, the one chord is A flat and the

V chord is E flat (E flat is the fifth note

of the A flat scale).

I will show you the vocal score against the

piano score so you can see what I changed.

Please remember, the piano score will only

work as a piano solo because the chord substitu-

tions would clash with the vocal parts.

Editor's notes for Part One of More About Jesus

Measure One:

I used a IV chord in the left hand on the

syllable..."Je" of the word "Jesus".

A IV chord can be inserted when the I chord

lasts 3 beats or more beats.

The right hand is playing a suspended chord

which I will explain in another lesson.

Measure two:

Left hand plays a stepping down pattern leading

into the vi 7 chord on the word "know".

Alot is happening in this measure to the next

measure.

So....when a I chord lasts for 3 or more beats and

is moving into a V chord....you can substitute the

I chord with the vi chord and....

Measure three:

.....then substitute the V chord with the ii 7 (as long

as the V chord lasts long enough to resolve back to

the V chord...basically three or more beats.

The original chord progression for the vocal score is...

Measure one: I chord

Measure two: I chord

Measure three: V chord

Measure four: I chord

The new chord progression in the piano score is...

Measure one: I to a IV

Measure two: I to a vi 7

Measure three: ii 7 to a V 7

Measure four: I chord

I'm in somewhat of a rush but hope I've made myself

clear.

We leave in the morning for Pigeon Forge and i'm

looking forward to dreaming up more articles on the

trip!

The Church Pianist: Stately Chord Substitution

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This is a neat sounding chord! It adds a majestic
flair to a stately hymn or gospel song.

The altered vii (diminished) chord can be used
during a V to I chord progression if the V chord
lasts for at least three beats. This allows time
for the chord substitution to resolve back to the
V chord before moving on to the I chord.

Simply alter the vii (diminished) chord by lower-
ing the bottom note one half step.

For example:

In the key of F...the vii (diminished) chord is:
( E G B flat ) Lower the E to an E flat.

This creates an E flat chord to be used within
the key of F.

Use it first in place of the V and then resolve to the
V chord before going on to the I chord.

I've shared two examples of this chord subsit-
tution to help clarify the concept.

Special note: The minor 7th of the altered chord
is also included for a smoother chord progression.
It's used in the left hand for both examples.

In the first example: the minor 7th of the altered
chord is the D flat octave in the left hand.

For the second example: The G flat octave is the
minor 7th of the altered chord.

Remember, this stately chord substitution can be
applied when using a V to I chord progression.
*The V chord must last for at least 3 beats.

Attention: Please don't use chord substitutions for
congregational singing unless they're singing
unison.

Chord substitutions will clash with the written
voice parts in the hymnal.

The Church Pianist: Chord Substitutions with Jesus Paid it All

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I've mentioned before that I enjoy
accompanying vocalists because I'm
not enslaved to the melody.



Chord substitutions add so much
life and warmth to a song.


I think in chord frames as I pointed out
in previous articles.




Warning:

This type of free-style accompaniment
only works for vocalists that are confi-
dent with the melody.




I find that it throws some vocalists that
depend heavily on the pianist for the
melody.




The pianist can still use chord substitu-
tions but must adhere to the melody for
vocalists needing the extra support.




Editor notes for: Jesus Paid it All
in the Key of C Major




Measure # 2:

The vi chord (a,c,e) substitutes the I chord
*This adds a nice chord variety when the
I chord lasts for 3 or more beats.




Measure#3:

The ii chord subsitutes the V7 and then re-
solves back to the V7 on the 3rd beat.




Measure#5:

The iii chord substitutes the I chord which
progresses nicely into a vi chord in the next
measure.




Measure#6:

The vi chord replaces the I chord.
The ii diminished chord replaced
the I chord on the word: "Find"
and pleasantly resolved back into
the I chord in Measure#7.




Measure#7:

I added an extra measure after this
one (measure#8) to allow time for
several chord substitutions that lead
nicely into the chorus. An extra measure
works well at the end of a verse. (Espec-
ially when the last word of the verse has
the same chord as the first word of the
chorus).




Measure#8:

Just use a IV to a V7 chord which will lead
back to the I chord (in measure#10)



Measure#11:

The IV chord replaces the I chord once again
and resolves back to the I chord on the next
word (which would be measure#12).


Refer to my other articles on chord substitutions
if needing extra help on application.

The Church Pianist: Chord Substitution ( Using the II 7 and ii 7 )

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Any chord within a major scale
can be altered to create inter-
esting chord progressions in
gospel songs.

For example, in the key of C...

The ii 7 chord (DFAC) could be
changed to a major chord:
This would translate to:
D F# A C

This altered chord ( II 7 )
can substitute a I chord
moving into a V chord.

Example: C chord to a G chord

Wait! That's not all...a ii 7 then
replaces the V chord before re-
solving back to the V chord.

Required conditions for II 7:

Can be used when I chord
is already lasting for three
or more beats. This gives
developing time for the sub-
stitution.

Required conditions for ii 7:

Can be used when V chord
is already lasting for at least
two beats.

See the first example on today's image
for Sweet Hour of Prayer. I labeled the
chord substitutions for clarification.

It always helps to see a concept applied
to several songs in different keys
before it makes sense.

Try these chord subsitutions in other
gospel songs for practice.

Hint: Look for a I chord lasting more
than three beats before moving to a V
chord that lasts at least two beats.

The Church Pianist: Chord Substitutions for Repeated Bass Lines

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Chord substitutions add spice to

gospel songs with repeated bass

lines!

Some of these substitutions have

been mentioned in my previous

articles.

General information on song sample:

The vocal score is presented to show

the contrast created by the improvised

piano score.

Please remember: chord substitutions
conflict with part singing unless....
everyone is singing unison.

Editor notes by measure number:


#3: I added the minor 7th of the G
chord (the F natural) which gave
a nice pull to the IV chord in m#4

#6: Substituted a I (G) chord with the
vi (e) chord

#7: The substituted vi chord leads nicely
to a II7 (Major-minor 7th) AC#EG

#8: Subsitute a V with the ii7 which
resolves back to the V.
I did use a ii7 crossed with a V on
the first beat for a nice twist!

The I 7 chord illustrated in measure #3
can be used for congregational singing
when correctly applied.
Tomorrow's article will demonstrate this
easy-to-apply chord!

Chord substitutions allow the church pianist to communicate more effectively through music.

The Church Pianist: Chord Substitution

How to Substitute the V or V7 chord with a ii7.

This substitution can be used
when a V or V7 chord lasts two
or more beats.

It can be done in only 2 beats.
(see measure #4)

Simply replace the V or V7 chord with a ii7 and
resolve to the V or V7.

The song example is in the key of D Major.

Therefore, the ii7 chord= EGBD. The V7=AC#EG.

It's not necessary to play all 4 notes of a 7 chord.

The bare necessities are the 1st and 7th note of
the 7 chord.

Try this chord substitution on other songs in easier keys

such as: C, F, and G. Look for a V7 lasting 2 or more beats

and substitute with a ii7 in that key.

Helpful tip: Key of C (ii7=DFAC) (V7=GBDF)

This chord substitution adds a nice warmth to invitation

style songs.

Clarification tip: Don't use chord substitutions when playing

for congregation. The chord substitution(s) will conflict with

the written voice parts in the hymnal.

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The Church Pianist: More Application of the ii 7 Chord Substitution

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The following two gospel songs apply the chord substitution mentioned in the previous article.

Remember to play the ii 7 chord with the left hand.


*Clarification of using the ii 7: Notice: There are four notes in a ii 7 chord.

To avoid a heavy, clouded sound: Don’t play all 4 notes when a ii 7 chord is lower than Bass C

(the first C under middle C). Instead: play the bottom and top note only. For example: I would

play only A and G together for the ii 7 in the key of G. (because the A is located under Bass C).

Remember, the lower you play close-note chords the cloudier they sound.

(In an earlier article I mentioned not playing three note chords of any kind

lower than Bass C to prevent a muddy tone.)

Application of ii 7 chord substitution:

Hymn: Haven of Rest (Key of G)

ii 7 chord = A C E G (just play A and G)

IV chord = F A C

(2nd measure: out on life’s sea)

Change left hand to: ii 7 (A and G) on the word: life’s

(6th measure: do the same)

Change left hand to: ii 7 on the word: your



Hymn: The Solid Rock ( Key of C)

ii 7 chord = G Bflat D F (just play G and F)

IV chord = B flat D F

(3rd measure: Je-sus’ blood)

Change left hand to: ii 7 on the word: blood

Make the same change on the word: lean (measure 9)



This chord substitution will add more variety to gospel hymns. Challenge yourself and apply this same chord substitution to other gospel songs.

The Church Pianist: Chord Substitution

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(ii 7 can replace a IV chord or vice versa!)

Ok, let’s use Key of C to establish the above mentioned chords.

What’s the 2nd note in the Key of C? D

Therefore the ii 7 chord = DFAC (the C is the 7th note above the note D)

What’s the 4th note in the key of C? F (Correct!)

Therefore the IV chord = FAC

Notice how the ii 7 and IV chord have several notes in common. They both have the notes: FAC.

This is why they can interact and substitute each other!

The result is a richer, warmer sound!

Application:

(The left hand plays the ii 7 )

When to substitute the IV with a ii 7 : When the IV chord lasts for 3 or more beats. Most of the

substitutions will occur on the 3rd beat.

It is Well (last 3 measures) Key of C

Words of these measures: "…well, it is well with my soul."

1st of the last 3 measures:

Beat one and two: as written ( on word: "well" )

Beat three: change to ii 7 ( on the words: "it is" )

Trusting Jesus (2nd sentence) Key of F

The IV chord in the Key of F = Bflat, D, F

The ii 7 chord = G , B flat, D and F

Words of this sentence: "Trusting thru a stormy way;"

Trusting: as written

Thru a: change to ii 7

These chord substitutions will bring the old hymns to life! There are many more chord

substitutions! We will take one at a time to keep things simple.

I will show you a couple more hymns tomorrow with the same chord substitution.

Special Note: Please feel free to leave questions or comments to help me out on

future articles. I need to know your needs! Thanks a bunch!