Here is a quick video from Peter Martin.
Most of his music is very advanced but here he is showing us some lovely extensions on standard chords.

Hi Brian,

This is a very interesting slant on chords. When I first started learning piano, I heard Michael Holliday singing The Story Of My Life (1958), which went to No: 1. This was all done with 'straight chords', majors and sevenths (as they did in those days). When playing it in C and I got to F followed by G7, then back to F again, I was hooked. Just wanted to play those two chords over and over.



I understand that people can soon get bored with these basic chords and want to elaborate on them to make them more interesting. I suppose I have never grown up really, as I still enjoy playing songs with those original basic harmonies. Twist those chords, syncopate the notes played and you end up with jazz. Don't really like that as I find it too 'dis-chordant'.

I suppose the one chord I do play more and more now is the nat7 chord, replacing a straight major chord. And the ones in your video are growing on me! Thanks for posting the video.

Could you do something for me? Play a song with 'straight chords' (majors, minors and 7ths) eg. the one I have mentioned above. And then do a second recording changing those basic chords to something more elaborate and 'jazzy'. Would be interesting comparing the two.

I have one example of this I'll put up here .. Blue Moon.
.. maybe do a 'right-click' here and Open link in new tab, then you can carry on reading the topic while you are listening ..
First, my version with 'Straight Chords' eg.C, Am, Dm, G7
https://app.box.com/s/cotn5ha8i6nqdpii4qykaniahfa5ylea
Secondly, as played by a friend of mine using his own 'Jazzy Chords'
https://app.box.com/s/hmvz39vxdl3xefmqrsdaoenmo4htlozd

I know which version I would prefer to listen to .. and it's not mine! So I really must look into how to do 'alternative chords'.

Hugh

Hi Hugh,
Here are two old posts of mine, one with the more traditional chords and the other with the jazzier chords.
It isn't exactly what you asked for, I will get round to doing something with two choruses first with the basic chords, second with extensions.
https://youtu.be/6bGXkrD0-3Y
https://app.box.com/s/mbs3skytecj6x4zj0g9qvq1ycgizatgd

Hi Brian,

Thanks for posting those. That is exactly what I was on about. You first rendition on YouTube is very much 'straight harmony'; and your second a jazzed up version.

Hugh

Amazing - only just noticed this.
Good to have some other chording.
It was only a few days ago had I started playing The Story Of My Life.
Did Bing Crosby sing this first and Michael Holliday adopted his sound?

Blue Moon is another that benefits from modern chording. Have chords prepared by Reg Owen.