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Playing the changes

What is it about different chords that can create so many contrasting moods? Saxophone-player Julian Siegel attempts to put his finger on it

Two pictures side-by-side demonstrating how to play bass clarinet

CHORDS ARE WHAT YOU GET when more than one note is played at the same time. The combination of notes can sound sweet, or bitter or sad or happy, depending on which you build your chord from. And when that combination of notes is played, you can also use the notes that make up the chord – and some others – to add a melody that will sound as if it belongs with the chord.

Open QuoteI was like, Oh God, I can't go on. He was just a total nutter, raving about harmoniesClose Quote

Julian Siegel

In most songs, there will be several chords underneath the melody, played in a sequence or progression – jazz musicians call them 'the changes'. One chord changes to another to suit the ups and downs of the tune. In many songs, the chord that started the song off will also be the one it ends on.

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