[Easy/With Video Tutorial] Piano Chord Playing: Beginner-Intermediate Level - Let's Try Adding 9ths! - Referencing the Black Book/Let's Play Together

Hello. I am Masami Sogawa, an instructor at Freely Piano School.

This time, using the masterpiece "Danny Boy" included in the Jazz Standard Bible (commonly known as the Black Book 2), I will introduce chord playing with the addition of 9ths.

Adding 9ths creates a much more stylish and mature sound. Let's also solve the question of how to play the melody together!

🎹 How to use this article

This article is designed to be read along with the YouTube tutorial video.

▶️ Video here: 9th Let's try adding it and playing!

I have included ⏱ timestamp links at the beginning of each section.
Please try following the flow of reading the article and then watching the corresponding part of the video to check the actual sound.

It will be even easier to understand if you also have the sheet music from the Black Book 2 (Jazz Standard Bible 2) on hand♪

What you will learn in this article

• What kind of sound you get when you add 9ths

• How to add 9ths and 7ths to the chords at rehearsal mark [A]

• Tips for adding 9ths while playing the melody with your right hand

• How to think about choosing whether or not to "add" 9ths yourself

• Conquering the difficult parts of rehearsal mark [B] and how to use 9ths

Introduction

⏱ → Go to the relevant part of the video ( 00:50〜)

The theme this time is "What kind of sound do you get when you add a 9th?"

Adding a 9th instantly creates a luxurious, mature, and jazzy sound😁 Furthermore, this time we will also challenge ourselves with "What happens if we add 9ths to everything?"!

However, for solo piano, you also need the root note. For beginner-intermediate players, it is recommended to start by firmly playing the root note.

Checking the chords for [A]

⏱ → Go to the relevant part of the video ( 01:28〜)

We will add 7ths and 9ths to the chords at rehearsal mark [A]. I have summarized the key points.

E♭ (E♭M7)
First, we add a seventh to E♭, but it sounds wonderful if you make it a major 7th. Let's decide to go ahead and add the major 7th without hesitation!

E♭7 + 9th
We add a 9th to E♭7. The 9th is the note right next to the seventh.

A♭ (A♭M7)
Add a seventh to A♭ as well. This also sounds great with a major 7th.

A♭m6 / E♭ + 9th / Cm + 9th
We will add sevenths and 9ths to each. If you don't know the 6th note, feel free to skip it for now!

Fm7 → B♭7
Adding a 9th here also makes the sound much more luxurious.

How do you play the melody with your right hand?

⏱ → Go to the relevant part of the video (02:52~)

You might be wondering, "If I play so many notes with my left hand, what do I do with the melody in my right hand?"

The answer is to play the melody with your right hand while incorporating the chord tones (including the 9th) at the same time.

The following two points are difficult at the intermediate level.

• Adding the 9th note, which is next to the seventh, while playing the melody with your right hand

• Actually listening to the sound and deciding for yourself whether or not to include this 9th

This sense of choosing the sound yourself is the real thrill of the intermediate level.

Reference Performance

⏱ → Go to the relevant part of the video (04:12~)

In the video, I am playing through rehearsal mark [A]. Please listen to the actual sound and try to feel the change in resonance when the 9th is added.

One-point advice

⏱ → Go to the relevant part of the video (05:05~)

Here are some tips for using 9ths more effectively.

① You don't have to include them in everything
Adding a 9th to every chord can sound too extravagant. It is also important to know how to save them for climactic moments✨

② Play them at a position away from the root note
If you want that characteristic 9th sound, I recommend playing it in a position away from the root note♪ You can play it right above the root note (a second), but it will have a different sound. Both have their uses, so please listen to both and choose for yourself✨

Checking the chords for [B]

⏱ → Go to the relevant part of the video ( 06:09〜)

Rehearsal mark [B] is a difficult section. First, let's check the basic movements.

Upper staff: E♭ → G → A♭ → B♭ → E♭

Lower staff: C → B♭ → A♭

Please try to press the keys exactly as indicated as much as possible.

Deciding whether to include the 9th

At [B], carefully decide whether to include the 9th depending on the chord.

Situations where it is better to include it
In places where the melody note is exactly the 9th, the 9th will naturally be included without you even thinking about it. This is a "lucky!" situation 🤗

Situations where it is better not to include it

• In places like Dm7♭5 → G7 where the E♭ lasts for two beats, don't force it and just omit it. Having the courage to omit notes is also important!

• In situations where a cleaner sound is more appropriate, you also have the option of omitting the seventh and playing only the 9th ✨

Situations for a flattened ninth (♭9th)
There are also places where a flattened ninth (♭9th) fits better than a 9th. Please check the actual sound in the video.

Review performance

⏱ → Go to the relevant part of the video ( 09:49〜)

Finally, I am playing it through. The left hand is playing block chords, and the right hand is playing the melody plus the chord tones (including the 9th). Please try playing along with the video.

✅ Summary of practice steps

1. 📖 Organize the concepts of chords and how to add 9ths in the article

2. ▶️ Check the sound in the corresponding part of the video

3. 🎹 Try playing from [A] by adding 7ths and 9ths

4. 🎵 Try playing along with the right-hand melody

5. 🎶 Check the difficult parts of [B] little by little

6. ✨ Choose for yourself whether to 'include or exclude' the 9th while playing through

Conclusion

By adding a 9th, your usual chords will change to a much jazzier and more mature sound✨
Don't feel like you 'have to include them all,' but please enjoy the fun of choosing the sound with your own ears😊

I recommend trying this with a slow song first✨

Once you get used to chord changes, try challenging yourself with something with a bit more tempo!

Please enjoy playing the piano little by little within your comfort zone♪

Thank you for reading until the end😊

Freely Piano School Instructor: Masami Sogawa