Part 6/9:
Once you are adept at detecting inversions, you can quickly see how different chords are layered or spread, which expands your harmonic vocabulary.
Step 5: Split the Chord and Reduce Complexity
Rick emphasizes that one of the most effective techniques is to mentally split a complex chord into simpler segments. By isolating parts—such as removing the upper or lower voices—you can identify familiar chords such as E9, F major 7, or B flat major. This process simplifies the analysis and allows incremental understanding of the overall harmonic structure.
For example, a chord of E9 over F major can be identified by focusing first on the recognizable E9 sound (marked by the intervals of the sharp ninth) and then recognizing the F major component on top.