The Minus-One Chord (Chord -I)
Apr 9th, 2008 by admin
I have said before that mine is a not-so-conventional theory. That’s one reason why this site is called Piano Cheats at the first place. You probably have not heard and will not hear of any chord called “minus-one” anywhere else.
What exactly do I mean by a minus-one chord. In my definition, it is a chord that is one full tone down from the 1st chord or Chord I. For example, in the key of C, the minus-one chord is the B-flat (Bb) chord. And in the key of G, the minus-one chord is the F chord.
I have no idea and I don’t really care what that chord is called conventionally, but it is easier for me to recognize, identify and locate it on the keyboard by thinking it as one step down (full tone) from Chord I (rather than 6.5 or 7 steps up from Chord I). That’s the reason I call it minus-one. It can’t be Chord Zero, right? If anything should be known as Chord Zero (which usually refers to the baseline in any field), it should be the 1st chord of the key rather than this chord. So, there is no Chord Zero in this theory.
One may ask, “So, in the key of C, the C chord is Chord I, and the Bb chord is Chord –I, what do you call the B Chord?” The answer is, you probably never play a B chord in the C key. So, there is no need to give it a name. (Actually, when you do play a B note as the bass in the C key, you will play a G chord with your right hand. But that is another topic we will cover later.)
Below are some illustrations of Bb chord (i.e., the minus-one chord, or Chord –I, of the C key):
Figure 1: Bb Chord (root position, i.e., Bb-D-F notes)
Figure 2: Bb Chord (1st inversion, i.e., D-F-Bb notes)
Figure 3: Bb Chord (2nd inversion, i.e., F-Bb-D notes)
And of course, it’s up to you which of the above inversions you prefer depending on which one of them you find easier for you to play.
As for the left hand, just play the Bb note, or a Bb octave as shown below (Note: Just the thumb and the little finger are playing. The other fingers aren’t pressing any key):
[...] the verse, the chord progresses from Chord I to Chord V, then to Chord –I (minus-one), then to Chord IV. After that, simply repeat this chord progression (I, V, -I, IV) until you reach [...]
[...] have tweaked the 4th chord (marked red) in the series above to become Chord –I over the 5th bass note (so). Try playing it. How do you like the [...]
[...] refer to “The M Bass” post for the “M” notation, and “The Minus-One Chord” post for the “-1″ [...]
[...] IV –> I/3 –> I/5 –> -I –> IV/5 –> V Please refer to “The Minus-One Chord” for the “-I” notation in the progression [...]
[...] VIm –> VIm/5 –> I/M –> -I/2 –> -I –> V See “The Minus-One Chord” post for the “-I” notation above. In the G key, the progression is translated into: G [...]
Hey, I found this website looking for piano tips this morning (so many of them are just trying to sell stuff =/ ) and I really like it! Your notation is pretty inventive … minus-one … haha.
I like the sound though.
thanks for all the tips!
Hi Scott!
Thank you for dropping by and giving me a very encouraging comment. Please do make suggestions any time.
Les
It would also be nice if you state the mood the chord makes, and how does it go with the other chord progression.
Knowing how to play the chord is easy, but to know when to best use it is hard.
but good job!
Thank you very much for this feedback, pianolover!
I meant to explain this, or may be I did in some other posts, or maybe I simply forgot to do so… Hahaha!
I often use Minus1 in place of 7th chord, in transition from Chord I to Chord IV.
For example, in the key of C, you would notice C7 is used very often between C and F, as in C –> C7 –> F.
What I play, very often is, instead, C –> Bb/C –> F.
Note that the bass note is still a C. This is also know as C11 (C-eleventh).
I hope that is clear.
Hey can u tell me how to play shout to the lord?
Thanks
Jaison Moi Mawa-(14 years old from Sudan in Africa i’m a male.)
Hi Jaison, thanks for writing.
I already have Shout To The Lord on the site.
Look for it on the Index page, and look under Church Songs category.
Cheers!