Chord Of The Week 30/5/15 - The Holdsworth maj7#9#11 chord

bigjon

Well it would have to be how Holdsworth plays a maj7#9#11 chord, wouldn't it! Can't think of anyone else who plays it!

I think Holdsworth is thinking of a B over C polychord - it occurs quite a bit in his composition, though the instance I'm thinking of is from the song 'Tokyo Dream'

The lower part of the chord is C (notes C E G with the G in the bass if you want to stretch your tendons)

C(/G): (3)32xxx

The upper part of the chord is B (notes B D# F#)

B xxx442.

In relation to the C root note of the polychord, the B note is a maj7, the D# is a #9, and the F# is a #11

So the combined chord is 

Cmaj7#9#11(/G) - (3)32442

The chord under discussion (in Eb so 3 frets up) is at 1:05 in this vid, although the director chooses shots of the bassist and drummer at the crucial moment.

bigjon

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