I think those who have musical ears are affected by dissonant chords like this in ways that create anticipation and maybe a bit of uneasiness that is expecting a resolution. Maybe this is why these chords _resonate_ so deeply for us.
I felt this in my soul. Throughout musical lessons I was always told minor 9th and minor 2nds were undesirable and ugly but they always resonated with me emotionally. Much love brother.
I just started playing piano and was wondering about this yesterday…sounds bad by itself but in the chord it’s so satisfying..glad to see u confirm my speculations about that
my favourite every progression is DGAA#, up 4 octaves, starting from 3rd lowest D. in the left hand just a simple D# octave at the lowest you can go. coming back down is more complex can't explain it and there's more to the left hand but it sounds so nice
yo last yr i had the revelation u can play a fair bit of 5 note cluster voicings together on guitar using one artificial harmonic (usually on the D or A string) and sometimes by barring your index in a weird way that covers two seperate frets . ik its been done before but no one told me that was possible so now i wanna write down all of them into a PDF.
I figured this out from editing MIDI and palming keyboards randomly for years, but I barely understood why it sounded good or what to call it besides intentional dissonance in key. It's really useful for making interesting shell chords so other elements can harmonize instead of stacking
On the guitar, and piano, the 1st inversion drop 2 7th chord shape has a nice 2nd or m2nd depending on the chord quality. Example would be Fmaj7/A = A-E-F-C it has that E and F right next to each other.
i was looking for this comment! lol i heard the chords and with the effect he put on the piano, i said "wait a minute!" i had to pause the video several times just to play the song and compare!
the real art is clusters within open voicings in my opinion- there’s something so simple but heavenly about two stacked shapes placed on top of one another with a tiny gap in between (i.e. a minor 9 with the 3rd and 7th on top of stacked 5ths!)
Brooo please share with me how you process your piano, not sure if you use Logic Pro but I want my Nord to sound clean like that. Mind sharing your process on how you mix your piano?
I discovered this on my own because I’m self taught just listen what sounds good by ear but so spaced out essentially what u mean is it’s just a dissonant chords are essentially augmented chords? Just crunched? This is blowing my mind perhaps augmented isn’t the right term but I get what u mean that’s sick
This might be a really niche question, but if you look at the song slide by Calvin Harris and frank ocean, does that chord progression use a cluster chord like this? I can kind of hear it.
This seems like the same thing but its kinda like why vs how in that playing one chord 5 different ways is more nuanced than playing 5 chords all the same way. Like asking how the united healthcare ceo died is different than asking why he died
I dont know anything about music theory, but i discovered a chord that sounded really nice but i was afraid to use it since it had two keys next to eachother. I thought a real musician would laugh at me
Dissonant chords like that on guitar in a metal context are the creme
Artificial Brain....
@@munkey9064 ?
@@ShephrdWiebit’s a band that does it
@@puffballbk2186 I see monke
@@ShephrdWiebmonke
Cluster chords do an amazing job of adding a melancholic but nostalgic feeling to any existing chords.
Agreed
tension yes
I love this effect too. I've always thought of it as adding a slight bitter-sweet edge to a cord 👍
sir you just unlocked a new appreciation for jazz in me
7major chords actually are in every type of music but jazz is cool
@ you’re totally right, it just shows up way more often in jazz and is used in a lot more creative ways
Love those. Done right is magic
Facts!
When I discovered cluster chords, it changed everything. Vibe is beautiful
I like those too
me too man
I love those also
Listen to ryuishi sakamoto piano works :)
Yeah man
I think those who have musical ears are affected by dissonant chords like this in ways that create anticipation and maybe a bit of uneasiness that is expecting a resolution. Maybe this is why these chords _resonate_ so deeply for us.
My absolute favorite chords in music. Without question.
I felt this in my soul. Throughout musical lessons I was always told minor 9th and minor 2nds were undesirable and ugly but they always resonated with me emotionally. Much love brother.
Sounds like Aja
I just started playing piano and was wondering about this yesterday…sounds bad by itself but in the chord it’s so satisfying..glad to see u confirm my speculations about that
🤝🏽
Made an audible noice after that first chord
@@bruhoul5601 😂 glad you enjoyed
i really just wanna hear him just play everything he does sounds soooo good
Is there longer video on this? Set of fav chords that work well like this? Seems like they sound good used together.
those minor 11ths are BUTTER 🧈…my favorites to play
love this, clusters are beautiful thank you for teaching me about these, subbed
@@summerlaverdure glad it was helpful!
It’s beautiful
Man, I love these so much
That chord reminds me of the end chord on that song “Faded pictures” by Joe! Great video! 🎹🤙🏾
Dude that was incredible
Its even more beautiful when groups sing with cluster harmonies but in key
This. Yes. That’s a big inspiration of why I play them!
Totally agree, love how these chords sound
Bro said it has a crunch to it. Subbed instantly 🔥
@@seanraye 🤣🤝🏽
No lies detected 💯✊🏾💯 Definitely gives a magical vibe at times ✨️
🙏🏽🙏🏽
Bro that's fire, that "crunch" sounds so good
Seasoned Chords 🤤🤤🤤
I hear you man.
I love crunchy notes.
Fun stuff
my favourite every progression is
DGAA#, up 4 octaves, starting from 3rd lowest D. in the left hand just a simple D# octave at the lowest you can go. coming back down is more complex can't explain it and there's more to the left hand but it sounds so nice
Loooove clusters man check out the Bulgarian Woman’s Choir for those harmonies if you haven’t
I will thanks for the recommendation!!
i can’t stop watching this 😂
Yk the composer Eric Whitaker uses a lot of cluster chords with a bunch of extensions on his choir pieces like lux arumque and when David heard
The first chord example he plays is literally my favorite minor voicing. I use that thing like salt and pepper.
I always play the opening Gm9 to Infant Eyes with a cluster and it sounds excellent
It does just hit differenr 🙌
yo last yr i had the revelation u can play a fair bit of 5 note cluster voicings together on guitar using one artificial harmonic (usually on the D or A string) and sometimes by barring your index in a weird way that covers two seperate frets . ik its been done before but no one told me that was possible so now i wanna write down all of them into a PDF.
I figured this out from editing MIDI and palming keyboards randomly for years, but I barely understood why it sounded good or what to call it besides intentional dissonance in key. It's really useful for making interesting shell chords so other elements can harmonize instead of stacking
I like this warm pad sound. ❤
thats... a piano?
On the guitar, and piano, the 1st inversion drop 2 7th chord shape has a nice 2nd or m2nd depending on the chord quality.
Example would be Fmaj7/A = A-E-F-C it has that E and F right next to each other.
first cluster chord you played sounded like take you there by H.E.R
i was looking for this comment! lol i heard the chords and with the effect he put on the piano, i said "wait a minute!" i had to pause the video several times just to play the song and compare!
the real art is clusters within open voicings in my opinion- there’s something so simple but heavenly about two stacked shapes placed on top of one another with a tiny gap in between (i.e. a minor 9 with the 3rd and 7th on top of stacked 5ths!)
I love the way you explained this, makes perfect sense ❤
Glad it was helpful!
hey I recognize you from city light! that’s pretty cool just had to share lol merry Christmas!
One of Steely Dans corner stones is cluster chords followed by very open spread out chords and vise versa
BEAUTIFL! great explanation and examples!
🙏🏽
I really want to learn to play piano better, are there any go to techniques exercises you’d recommend for beginners?
HI, I have a whole playlist of free lessons on my RUclips and an online academy at saucysounds.com
@ Thank you Zac, I’ll give it a watch 🙂
Oh I hear this a lot in gospel 🔥🔥
This reminds me of the gta 3 theme song, it also has that crunch to it
Love this chord ❤. It took me right back to the song from T-Square - Again and Again
Melodic dissonance is my absolute favorite.
I literally felt my soul transfer into the middle of the galaxy when he played that first cluster chord 💀
😂 glad you enjoyed! 🙌🏾
I learned about clusters from listening to jazz pianist Richie Beirach.
this should show you music theory is silly, play what makes you feel the best
these chords are gorgeous
Album name: Crunchin’ in the Cluster
Will implement that asap! Lovely❤
IM LITERALLY SO HAPPY FINDING THIS OUT CAUSE I JUST THOUGHT I WAS MESSIN UP LIKE A NOOB😂 no friggin way yo 😅
Music theory in 2025: "when you crunch it in the cluster, it hits different"
Brooo please share with me how you process your piano, not sure if you use Logic Pro but I want my Nord to sound clean like that. Mind sharing your process on how you mix your piano?
@@vicyman2002 no processing, this is straight from my nord. You can get my presets if you’d like on my website saucysounds.com
Awsom
Ah I found my arch nemesis of music. I always separate my chords, invert everything till it's all all at least over a full step away
@@desxxvi hahaha I love this!
love me a crunchy chord
Ooh that sounds great, might have to steal that
yes!
So cool
You just made me realise i got something wrong on my music theory exam
i struggle to make them sound good in my music but i’m also the equivalent of a toddler in music theory
Hey @Zacbarnesmusic! What’s this beautiful Nord patch that you’ve got here?
@@moevaom thank! My custom preset. Can get it on my website saucysounds.com
I discovered this on my own because I’m self taught just listen what sounds good by ear but so spaced out essentially what u mean is it’s just a dissonant chords are essentially augmented chords? Just crunched? This is blowing my mind perhaps augmented isn’t the right term but I get what u mean that’s sick
oooh
Dirty em up with a little distortion
Love this
That A minor 7 add🌶️
Lovely ❤
Old soul we hear ya
how do build a cluster chord from the couple notes you smashed together? do you add a root note or something ?
I guess you bring the top note down 1 octave then add a 5th or 6th. Experimenting is the best thing to do imo.
Liszt : hell yeah !
This might be a really niche question, but if you look at the song slide by Calvin Harris and frank ocean, does that chord progression use a cluster chord like this? I can kind of hear it.
crunch was the perfect word lol
How do cluster chords resonate with you if they are dissonant??
Interesting!
This is what's missing from a lot of pop. We need more dissonance to resolve into bliss
What piano setting is this
Like what type
all you gotta do is say yes!!
that first chord made me come
What's a crunch musically?
As a classical pianist I’m just like “wha- huh?!? 😳 GADZOOKS 😨 w-w-w-w-whaaaaa???? 🫣😦 bach is rolling in his grave!!! 🤯 YIKES!!!”
Where is the full clip ?
In my online academy
Beauty full
Voicing changes > Chord progs on Chord progs
This seems like the same thing but its kinda like why vs how in that playing one chord 5 different ways is more nuanced than playing 5 chords all the same way. Like asking how the united healthcare ceo died is different than asking why he died
Where do you learn all of this? I need a piano teacher
Someone told me I have a bad habit of improvising with clusters. Maybe I do it too much? But I really only play for me soon well.
Hey are you voicing down the seventh to achieve that?
Yes!
The minor 9th technically
Thank you!!
Does mouse on keys do this?
It has a very somber tinge to it imo
I dont know anything about music theory, but i discovered a chord that sounded really nice but i was afraid to use it since it had two keys next to eachother. I thought a real musician would laugh at me
Weed resonates with me😂
Listen to Doobie Powell; he is the king of cluster chords.
Very familiar with me Doobie, def 🐐
what was the first chord you played?
i think it was an E69/F#
💪🏻
Yvette Young invented the minor 2nd 😁
I've been trying to figure what those are called. I just been calling them "pop jazz" which definitely doesn't do it justice.
are those the chords from waking the witch by kate bush? i was just listening to the album today lol