Unit 2-1: Sus, Added, and Power Chords

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Recognize examples of sus4, sus2, added sixth, and power chords in examples from the repertoire.
Transcribe chords in harmonic progressions that incorporate diatonic shuttles including I-ii, I-iii, I-IV, I-V, and I-vi.
Demonstrate further proficiency in transcribing melodies that outline I, IV, and IV.
Improvise a simple melody over a progression that incorporates Sus4 and Sus2 chords.

Preparation for Class

Read:

Chord Quality (Chenette, Foundations of Aural Skills)

Watch

Beatles Songs to Help You Recognize Chords
(David Bennett, 2 mins)
Just watch the section on Sus and Add6 chords from 15:42–17:23

* *Review the videos in your Theory II text (Lesson 1-3) text for additional examples of songs using sus, power, add6, and extended chords.

Explore

Hearing Sus Chords: The chord player to the right is set up to loop a progression with C and Csus4. Try singing along with the progression, singing the third of the chord in the C chord ("Mi") and the suspended chord tone "Fa" in the second chord. Repeat until you can hear the 4th.

Try the same thing with a C and Csus2 chord loop, singing Do and Re.

Then, try a few other chords from the lesson, focusing on the special notes in each chord.

Reference Aid

References for Reading Lead Sheet Notation:

Common Chords (Stephanie Acevedo)
Advanced Chart with Voicing (Philip Tagg)

In-Class Activities

Improvisation

Melodic Improvisation with Sus Chords: Using the chord grid as a visual guide for your solfège, improvise a melody over a I-V or I-IV shuttle. Start by just singing one chord tone per measure, moving as smoothly as possible to the next chord tone. Then, try skipping between two or more chord tones per measure or arpeggiating the chords in each measure. The entire class can improvise simultaneously, or you can break into groups or sing solo. A chord player is provided below for use as a backing track for your improvisation.
- - Chord Grids: I - I - Vsus - V or I - IVsus2 - I - IVsus2
  - Chord Players:
    - - I - IVsus2 - I - IVsus2 (in C major)
      - I - I - Vsus - V (in F minor, 4/4)
  - Experiment with different styles, tempos, keys, and progressions:
  - For a variation, try the Improvisation Train exercise introduced in Unit 1-1 here.
Melodic Improvisation with Diatonic Shuttles: Create a chord grid for a I-ii, I-iii, I-vi shuttle and set up a chord player to play an accompaniment. Improvise over the chord progression until it feels comfortable and you don't need to refer to the chord grid anymore.
Syncopated Rhythms: (See the activity from Lesson 1-3 to continue with work with syncopated rhythms in simple time)

Singing & Sight Reading

Continued work with material from Lesson 1-3:

Melodic Sight-Reading: Continue practice sight-reading melodies in all sections, focusing on examples with syncopation and subdivisions in simple time.
Rhythm Sight-Reading: Continue sight-reading rhythms in the sections "Simple Time: Division-Level Syncopation" (Levels 1 and 2).

Sight Singing: Chord Skips with 7 and 2

Sight Singing: Chord Skips with 4 and 6

Rhythms: Syncopation

Aural ID and Dictation

Aural Anthology: This section of the anthology includes examples for melodic dictation and examples for transcribing both melody and chords. Work through the examples for I & V and I & IV.
Theory Anthology (Sus, Added, Power): Examples of songs that uses at least one of these chords.
- - Listen while your instructor or a partner plays examples from the anthology and try to identify where the sus chord, added chord, or power chord occurs by naming the lyrics that correspond to that chord. Don't worry about transcribing the other chords, just try to pinpoint where that chord occurs.
Theory Anthology (Shuttles): Examples of other major mode shuttles, that include I-ii, I-iii, I-IV, I-V, and I-vi.
- - Quick ID: Listen to the examples and name the two chords using Roman numerals.
  - Chord Transcription: Transcribe the chords for the example using Roman numerals and chord notation, using correct harmonic rhythm.

Aural Anthology: Melodic Transcription: IV and V

Theory Anthology: Sus, Added, Power Chords

Theory Anthology: Major Mode Shuttles

Assignment

Assignment 2-1

NEXT STEP

Next Lesson: Extended Chords

Additional Practice

Auralia:
- Chord Progressions: Levels 7a–8
- Chord Recognition: Levels 7a–7c
- Melodic Dictation: Levels 4a–4b
- Pop Chord Progressions: Level 2
- Rhythm Dictation: Levels 4a–4c
Musition:
- Rhythm Tapping: Level 3

Page updated

Report abuse