May 31, 2007
The Am9+3 Chord on the Sansula

Last week, we learned how to play the A minor + 9 chord on the Sansula. As we did last week, we'll add one more note: the far left note on the upper row of tines. Start in the middle, playing the longest tine with your right thumb; then play the long tine just to the left of it with your left them; keep alternating right-left-right-left, playing all of the notes with the white dot on them in the photo below.

Listen to the A minor 9 + 3 Chord

The last three notes (far left - far right - upper row left) make the 1-2-3minor, and this chord is enchanting and beautiful, even though the 2 and 3minor are dissonant. There are two different 3minor notes, an octave apart, both on the left side. See if you can hear them. Of course, you should also experiment with playing these notes in different orders - find other ways of stringing them together and making sense out of them.

Next week, we'll have one more chord in this A minor vein, and then we'll move onto other types of chords.

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