Writing for Three Horns

Sweet! Now, you have made it to the point in your career where you get paid enough to hire a
rhythm section and three horns for your gig! So, you have to figure out how to voice those
chords and make them sound like the $100 a man that you’ll make for the 20 years.

Writing for three horns can be difficult at times, but is much easier than writing for two horns.
We finally have enough notes to imply the sound of most chords, but not enough to get all of
the richness in “jazz” chords. So when voicing these chords chose wisely.

When voicing chords, we have to think just as we would when improvising, the third and
seventh are king. These are the notes, (along with the bass) that clearly define the quality of a
chord. If I play a C on the bass and an E above that, you can bet your last dollar that I am
implying a sound that is major. If we lower that note a half step to Eb, now am implying a
much darker sound that is minor. Furthermore, If I play a C in the bass an E above that and
then a B on top, I am implying a major triad with a major seven. This is sound that we
recognize as CMaj7. If I were to flat that B to a Bb, now I am implying a major train with a flat
seventh or a dominant chord quality, A.K.A C7.

The second most used way is the quartal triad, which is triad built in fourths. These can be
used in all inversions as well. However, it is not common for a these to be used in open
position, because the intervals between the notes are too wide and simply do not sound as
clear harmonically.

The third way, is a voicing that has a third and a second interval under the melody note. These
are simply called “cluster voicings”. Just like these other examples, they can be used in all
inversions, but open inversions are less common.

Beware! Cluster voicing that have only seconds can be used, but are as rare as your steak at
your local steakhouse. These are usually used for a particular effect, or to be comical. These
clusters are opposite of the others in that the open position inversions are used more.