Note in the bass

[ThomasG]

For example you see a F7 with a Gb in the bass F7/Gb. Is the correct way to simply play the Gb or do you look at the Gb as a triad and approach as a triad ?

[JimmyM]

The Gb is what the bass should play. It's a Gb bass note against an F7.

[liltommyg]

In some instances (Bill Evans for example) you can see that it's two chords played against each other - polytonality.
e.g. Cmaj7/Gm9, in which case you would treat the Gm9 as a full chord in its own right. I know you rarely come across this but now you know - and I still just play the G note anyway to give room for the piano player and the sound of the two chords.

[Alun]

In most theory texts, F7/Gb is an F7 chord with a Gb as the bass note. A poly chord would normally be written more as a fraction eg:

F7
-
Gb

Where it is an F7 chord on top of a Gb chord - Gb Bb Db F A C Eb

When it comes to soloing/walking over an F7/Gb, I would tend to treat it as an F7b9 but emphasise the Gb when walking.

Cheers,
Alun

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Alun

In most theory texts, F7/Gb is an F7 chord with a Gb as the bass note. A poly chord would normally be written more as a fraction eg:

F7
-
Gb

Where it is an F7 chord on top of a Gb chord - Gb Bb Db F A C Eb

When it comes to soloing/walking over an F7/Gb, I would tend to treat it as an F7b9 but emphasise the Gb when walking.

Cheers,
Alun

+1 Got to look at the direction of the line it determines if a bass note or triad.


If I see a F/Gb I will probably pedal Gb and do some rhythmic thing. If chord is lasting and I want some more notes then I would look to the F triad, but keep reinstating the Gb. The writer put it there for a reason.