Stuart Smith
Voice leading with rootless chords
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Voice leading with rootless chordsVoice leading with rootless chords is very simple because there are so few different rootless chords—it amounts to little more than moving from one standard rootless chord to another by the shortest route possible. The usual way to illustrate voice leading with rootless chords is to present different realizations of the II V I chord progression. Here, for example, is the II V I progression in major. There are two basic forms, corresponding to the two possible voicings of the IImÏ chord: 
And here is the II V I progression in minor. Again there are two basic forms, corresponding to the two possible voicings of the IIƒÏ chord: 
Note that the IIƒÏ chords are not rootless, but rather first or third inversions of the ordinary half-diminished seventh chord. This is standard practice. Some limited variation of the patterns above is possible. For example, the II V I progression can end with a sixth chord, rather than a major or minor seventh, when the II chord has its third as the lowest note (i.e., when it is in first inversion). In major, for example, we could have 
And in minor: 
The AmÎ here goes slightly below the normal range for rootless chords. This is acceptable if it occurs only occasionally. Download 1.17 Mb. Share with your friends:
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