Hi
No stay with me with this because it's gonna be difficult to explain! On a lot of Prince's 80's funk tracks he often uses a single sustained organ/synth chords during a vamp. He would do this alot in concert, too. A great example of this can be taken from the Purple Rain Live performance. During 'take me with you', he turns the song into a funk jam. There is a really prominent chord that is just held throughout the vamp. It sounds NASTY, just makes you screw your face up and nod that head.


Other examples of this chord can be heard on:

The extended version of 'Baby Knows' (the end vamp)

The 52 minute revolution rehearsal version of 'soulpsychodelicide' just after Prince shouts "Ice SCREAMMMMM'.

There are millions of examples! I am sure that most of you know what i am reffering to. At least i hope!

Now, my question is this -

What is that chord?


Obviously, as music is composed in varies key signitures, i am not looking for an exact chord i.e C7. however, the governing principles of music allow you to suggest a chord type that is used i.e this type of effect is created by using a major 7th chord, created by C E G Bb C


Could some knowledgeable individual please share how one would create this type of chord? not just the chord name but its construction (i.e inversions etc.)

For the sake of simplicity, lets say the groove we are in is in the key of 'C'. Please put examples in this context.


Thanks

The snth chord used on the track Musicology near the end is created thus


G Bb C E

(That is, if you were to play it in the key of 'C'.) so iit is a 2nd inversion of C7 chord


Play it at the high end on your keyboard for that squealing pitch!


Although, it is very similar, this particular chord has not got that same 'funk' to it as your examples.
[Edited 11/11/04 6:05am]

howcomeudontcallme said:

I know that chord - it's in the upcoming star wars movie - revenge of the snth, right?

I'm just pulling your talk box.

By snth chord, they mean 7th, right? am I right? I got this one, right?

otan said:

By 'snth' i meant to say 'Synth'. Just a typo error.

I know what you're talking about... esp on the take me with with live.

I"m not at a keyboard now. i'm travelling, but I think it's a minor 7th chord..... a lot of the prince synth riffs are minor 7ths.

i'll have to listen and try to figure out the exact chord wheni get home.

But he's throwing a ton of mod wheel on that in Take Me with YOu.

Are you a keyboard player? Cuz i'd love to chat with you about figuring out some Prince synth stuff.

I was working on DMSR the other day. but only got so far.

I think I know. THAT funky-as hell chord is, I think, a m13 chord, built like this: r m3 5 nat6 m7. Prince often reduces it to m7 3 nat6. So in the key of A that would be G C F#.

hectim said:

Hi Hectim, thanks for the input. i have a couple of questions regarding your chord though.

does the 'm' in your description stand for Minor or Major?

e.g is the the chord built from Root, Minor3, fith, Natural 6, Minor 7

or should the Majors be Minors?

m=minor (M=major) so it's a minor chord, the third is minor and so is the seventh. Buth the sixth is a natural sixth as found in the dorian scale.
You can hear this chord in the solo to Kiss and in James Brown's Soul Power. It's opf the combined with m7

PRNelson said:

hectim said:

I'm playing what you say on my synth, it has a sound of it but is not fully on the money. I think that u are right with the Root, Min3rd, 6th. There is something just not quite 'there' with it. Hmmmmm.

hmmmm I'm a guitarist, so... Anyway, I use this chord in abbreviated shapes, voiced (low to high) 7 m3 6 or simply the 'colour tones' m3 6. Sometimes I omit the 7 and just use a straight minor 6th chord too. Or I use a 6 1 voicing.
(I play alot of this stuff as you see )

PRNelson said:

Manki could answer this question, im sure!