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Double Bass Christmas time is here (yes, I know it’s early) harmonization question

g-dude

g-dude

Apr 20, 2018
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#1
Okay, so I’m sure that someone here has played this song at least once, if not way too many times.


The pattern of the first two bars is repeated several times. The first bar has a melody that has the pattern of ECCA with a Fmaj7 chord. The second bar has a whole note of A with an Eb9#11 chord.

For that second measure, the chord tones would be Eb G Bb F A. I get that the chord works because A is in the melody. Would it actually work to play a C on that measure? It’d make it a 13th chord.
 
#2
g-dude said:
Okay, so I’m sure that someone here has played this song at least once, if not way too many times.


The pattern of the first two bars is repeated several times. The first bar has a melody that has the pattern of ECCA with a Fmaj7 chord. The second bar has a whole note of A with an Eb9#11 chord.

For that second measure, the chord tones would be Eb G Bb F A. I get that the chord works because A is in the melody. Would it actually work to play a C on that measure? It’d make it a 13th chord.
Click to expand...

What key? Here's my transcription from the Guaraldi recording. Great tune. I called it year round and glared their dares.
 

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#4
g-dude said:
Okay, so I’m sure that someone here has played this song at least once, if not way too many times.


The pattern of the first two bars is repeated several times. The first bar has a melody that has the pattern of ECCA with a Fmaj7 chord. The second bar has a whole note of A with an Eb9#11 chord.

For that second measure, the chord tones would be Eb G Bb F A. I get that the chord works because A is in the melody. Would it actually work to play a C on that measure? It’d make it a 13th chord.
Click to expand...
Yes.
Use this voicing for the Eb7,9,#11,13 chord -
Eb in the bass, then (starting a Perfect 4th below middle C) - G,C, Db, F, A.
Don't play the Root/Eb in the chord voicing - redundant.
Don't play the 5th/Bb in the voicing - not necessary.
IME.
Merry/Happy HannuKwanzaMas.
 
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#5
g-dude said:
Okay, so I’m sure that someone here has played this song at least once, if not way too many times.


The pattern of the first two bars is repeated several times. The first bar has a melody that has the pattern of ECCA with a Fmaj7 chord. The second bar has a whole note of A with an Eb9#11 chord.

For that second measure, the chord tones would be Eb G Bb F A. I get that the chord works because A is in the melody. Would it actually work to play a C on that measure? It’d make it a 13th chord.
Click to expand...
A Bb melodic minor scale fits nicely over an Eb9#11 chord. (just the ascending version)

And yes, it has a C natural in it!
 
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#6
g-dude said:
Okay, so I’m sure that someone here has played this song at least once, if not way too many times.


The pattern of the first two bars is repeated several times. The first bar has a melody that has the pattern of ECCA with a Fmaj7 chord. The second bar has a whole note of A with an Eb9#11 chord.

For that second measure, the chord tones would be Eb G Bb F A. I get that the chord works because A is in the melody. Would it actually work to play a C on that measure? It’d make it a 13th chord.
Click to expand...

Were you inquiring in regard to soloing or accompanying?
 
#8
Don Kasper said:
Yes.
Use this voicing for the Eb7,9,#11,13 chord -
Eb in the bass, then (starting a Perfect 4th below middle C) - G,C, Db, F, A.
Don't play the Root/Eb in the chord voicing - redundant.
Don't play the 5th/Bb in the voicing - not necessary.
IME.
Merry/Happy HannuKwanzaMas.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reminder not to play the root - I definitely fall into that trap more than I would like.
 
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#13
The chord in question is nothing more than an E flat seven chord with an F major chord on top of it.

As a bassist, I play the root, and let the pianist play the F chord on top. In fact I often play 12th double stops.

if I am playing my six string electric, I will strike all the harmonics one fret behind the E flat.
 
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#14
dreamadream99 said:
The chord in question is nothing more than an E flat seven chord with an F major chord on top of it.

As a bassist, I play the root, and let the pianist play the F chord on top. In fact I often play 12th double stops.

if I am playing my six string electric, I will strike all the harmonics one fret behind the E flat.
Click to expand...

I like that way of thinking about it, and it sounds like having a contrast between the piano and the bass, where one is sitting on the F chord for both measures with the other moving, would have a pleasing sound.
 
#17
Yeah it’s the 13 it should sound fine. Best way to find out is to play the note over the chord and just see what it sounds like. I don’t think it needs to be any more complicated than that.

If you mean a C in the bass of the chord I don’t know. It probably won’t sound dissonant but it might not sound good. Regardless, I would still say put on a backing track and see how it sounds. Theory doesn’t matter if it sounds good to you.
 

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