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4-Part Jazz Harmony > Lateral Thinking

Lateral Thinking

Lateral Thinking requires that when we are presented with a given chord in a standard song, we must think "laterally" of either maj6 (and its associated 6/diminished scale, called maj6/dim), or min6 (and its associated 6/diminished scale, called min6/dim), and position this "lateral" chord/scale at a predetermined interval from the root of the given chord. (Note: this technique only works if the root of the given chord is being sounded firmly in the bass).

The advantage of this approach to harmonization is that we can introduce additional and/or substitute notes, called Enriching Notes, to any given chord, simply by applying a "lateral" chord/scale.

In the case of dominants, a variety of positions for the "lateral" chord/scales are applicable: the choice depends on where the dominant is going.

The following table shows the position of the "lateral" chord/scale with respect to various Chord Types, and the effect on the colors of the given chord:

Chord to be harmonized	"Lateral Thinking" Chord/Scale	Enriching Notes
maj6	maj6/dim on 5^th (of chord)	substitution of 4^th with #4^th , addition of #9^th
min6	min6/dim on root	addition of b13^th
min7	maj6/dim on flat 3^rd	substitution of 13^th with b13^th, addition of major 7^th
min7 b5	min6/dim on flat 3^rd	substitution of b9^th with 9^th, addition of major 7^th
7 resolving down a ½	min6/dim on 5^th	substitution of 4^th with #4^th , addition of #9^th
7 resolving up a 4^th	min6/dim on sharp root	substitution of 9^thwith b9^th, addition of #9^th , substitution of 4^th with #4^th , substitution of 5^th with #5^th
7 resolving up a 4^th	maj6/dim on flat 6^th	substitution of 9^th with b9^th , addition of #9^th , substitution of 13^th with b13^th
7 resolving to itself	maj6/dim on flat 7^th	substitution of 3^rd with sharp 2^nd , addition of sharp 4^th
7 resolving to itself	min6/dim on flat 7^th	substitution of 3^rd with sharp 2^nd , substitution of 9^th with flat 9^th , addition of sharp 4^th
7 resolving up a 4^th	min6/dim on 4^th	substitution of 13^th with b13^th , addition of b9^th
7 resolving up a maj 2^nd , 4^th , min 6^th or down a ½	°7/dim on flat 9^th	substitution of 9^th with b9^th , addition of #9^th, substitution of 4^th with #4^th