Breaking the Thirds: Diving into Quartal Harmony in Jazz

Jazz has always been a playground for harmonic innovation. While traditional Western music often relies on chords built in thirds, jazz musicians have consistently sought new sonic territories. One such exploration that has yielded rich and evocative results is quartal harmony – the practice of building chords based on intervals of fourths.

Why Fourths?

Traditional chords built in thirds (like C-E-G) create a familiar, consonant sound. Quartal harmony, on the other hand, produces a more open, ambiguous, and modern sound. The wider intervals create a sense of space and allow for richer harmonic textures. This makes it particularly appealing for jazz, where improvisation and complex harmonies are central.

The Devil’s Tone and Quartal Beginnings

Let’s start with a familiar sound: the C7 chord (C-E-G-Bb). Within this chord lies the infamous “Devil’s Tone” – the augmented fourth (or tritone) between E and Bb. This interval, once considered dissonant, is a cornerstone of jazz harmony.

• The Tritone’s Power: The E and Bb, when inverted, remain a tritone, simply swapping positions. This inherent symmetry adds a unique flavor to the chord.
• Building in Fourths: Now, let’s explore building chords in fourths using these notes. If we add a perfect fourth above E – Bb, we get Eb. So, the sequence E-Bb-Eb gives us the 3rd, 7th, and augmented 9th of a C7 chord.
• Another Perspective: Similarly, if we add a perfect fourth above Bb – E, we get A. This gives us Bb-E-A, which translates to the 7th, 3rd, and 13th (or 6th) of a C7 chord.

These quartal voicings create a broader, more spacious sound than traditional third-based voicings. They offer a unique harmonic color that’s both intriguing and powerful.

Quartal Harmony in Practice

Jazz musicians have embraced quartal harmony in various ways:

• Voicing Chords: Instead of stacking thirds, pianists and guitarists can voice chords using stacks of fourths. This creates a more open and less defined harmonic texture, allowing for greater flexibility in improvisation.
• Melodic Lines: Quartal harmony can also influence melodic lines. Using fourths in melodic construction can create angular, modern-sounding phrases.
• Modal Jazz: Quartal harmony is particularly effective in modal jazz, where the focus is on exploring the harmonic possibilities of a single mode. The open sound of quartal chords complements the modal approach.
• Impressionistic Sound: Quartal Harmony can also be used to create impressionistic soundscapes, that are less defined, and more about the colors of the sounds.

Exploring the Possibilities

The world of quartal harmony is vast and full of potential. Here are a few ways to start exploring:

• Experiment with voicing familiar chords using fourths.
• Try creating melodic lines using fourth intervals.
• Listen to jazz musicians who utilize quartal harmony, such as McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, and Chick Corea.
• Explore modal jazz and see how quartal harmony can enhance the modal sound.

By venturing beyond traditional third-based harmony, you can unlock a new realm of sonic possibilities and expand your musical vocabulary. Embrace the open sound of quartal harmony and have fun exploring its potential!