Pivot Chords: the fast way to learn chords

Note to music majors:  This post is NOT about common chord modulation. 
I’ll do a post on diatonic pivot chords later.  This post is about chord exercises. 

One of the important learning goals for dulcimer players is to master chords.  That means understanding how chords are formed and where the tones are located on the instrument.  The pivot chord exercise is one practice technique to help you reach that goal.

Spelling chords
A major chord contains three tones and, using intervals, is spelled I – III – V.  Or think of it as a stack of two intervals.  The first interval is a major third.  The second interval is a minor third. 

A minor chord contains three tones and, using intervals is spelled I - iii – V.  Or think of it as a stack of two intervals.  The first interval is a minor third.  The second interval is a major third.

Placing the chords on the dulcimer.
Some players find that learning chords is easiest when they concentrate on the shape of the chords.  They focus on triangles, Ls, inverted Ls, H patterns, diamonds and so forth.  Other players learn chords by remembering the spelling and names of the tones.  The Pivot Chord exercise combines both of these learning techniques.  Credit goes to Wes Chappell of No Strings Attached (http://www.myspace.com/nostringsattachedband) for naming this practice drill and teaching it in workshops.

The Pivot Chord Drill
The drill is based on playing the three members of a chord sequentially, adding a fourth tone at the octave above the starting tone, and then playing the tones in reverse without repeating the highest tone.

The basic form of this for a D-chord is:  D  - F# - A - D(octave)  – A -  F#  - D.

Play this SLOWLY.  Say the names of the tones aloud.  Watch the patterns your hands make.  The physical motion, speaking the names of the tones and careful observations of patterns reinforce learning.  Don’t leave out a step.  Doing this may feel a slight bit goofy.  Do it anyway.

Begin at the lowest D on the dulcimer and roll the chord up and down.  Once you are confident about this pattern, change the leading hand.  If your strong hand is right, be certain to practice this leading with the left hand too.

Now comes the pivot.  The second formation of this four-note roll will be the first inversion of the chord.  Begin the pattern on D as before.  But when you reach the octave D, keep going and play the next member of the chord.  In this case that is F#.  Now when you roll back down the chord, you will be playing in the octave from F# to F#.

The transitional pattern is:
D  - F# - A – D(octave) - F #(octave)   - D – A – F#

And the new pattern is:

F# - A - D – A -  F # 

Pivot again and roll the chord from A to A(octave)

Where should you place the tones on the dulcimer?  The answer is everywhere.  You’ll quickly discover options will appear.  Experiment with all possible patterns.

Begin as low as possible on the instrument and carry on until you run out of real estate.

Shift the leading hand that begins this exercise, and all the patterns will change.

Take the “Chord-a-Week” pledge.  At the top of your practice session, run through the pivot chord exercise on the D-chord for a week.  The next week move on to the E minor chord.  Then F# minor.  Then G and so forth.  You’ll be amazed at the progress this exercise can deliver.

The pivot chord exercise won’t deliver the ecstasy of a Whirling Dervish, but it will make you a better player and that has been known to induce varying states of ecstasy in performers and listeners.  

Pivot!