Simplifiying chords?

[girl]

Is it possible to simplify chords? I am planning on fulfilling an ambition this year and starting my own band; rhythm section, vocals, Alto, tenor and trumpet. I'd like to have "Jive Hoot" in the set but the chords are really sophisticated - my guitar/bass players will find it hard and I am finding it virtually impossible to work out harmony lines based on those chords.

So, can they be simplified? Can D7#9, Db7Sus and C7sus be replaced with something else? Could some chords simply be omitted all together?

Thanks in advance.

Girl

[hgiles]

I don't know the tune, but they can be simplified. Can you list all the chords here so that I know what context everything is in?

[Pete Thomas]

Usually they can (especially the bass), you can probably omit the #9. However sus chords are pretty uncomplex, and normal for quite basic R&B and pop so really your band should learn them.

You could split the chord beteween bass and guitar. If the bass plays a D and the guitar plays F# (A) C and F natural that is a D7#9. (NB the A can be omitted and the F is strictly speaking an E# but that will confuse them most likely)

The sus means playing root 4th 5th and 7th instead of root, 3rd 5th and 7th. If they polay a straight C7 instead of the sus, and there is an F in the melody, it will sound wrong. They could of course just play root, 5th and 7th, but omitting notes can sometimes make the chords harder to play.

However the bass player can just mostly play roots and/or roots and fifths.

[girl]

Thanks. It seems that perhaps they are not as difficult as I thought. My bass player did seem rather unhappy with them, but he could just play the root, and hopefully my guitarists will learn them!

I want to do other rock n roll numbers, so I suppose they'll have to do them sooner or later!

Cheers.

[Riff]

The sus4 chords can also be thought of as minor 7th chords with the fourth in the bass. ie:
Db7sus = Ab-7 with Db in the bass
C7sus = G-7 with C in the bass

These voicings with add the 9th to the chord but that should be OK and even sound hip.

[rini]

Originally Posted by Riff

The sus4 chords can also be thought of as minor 7th chords with the fourth in the bass. ie:
Db7sus = Ab-7 with Db in the bass
C7sus = G-7 with C in the bass

These voicings with add the 9th to the chord but that should be OK and even sound hip.

Yeah. And they are notated like:
Ab-7/Db (meaning Ab-7 with Db in the bass)
and
G-7/C (meaning Gm7 with C in the bass)

And these b9 chords could be notated like
Gdim/C or Edim7/C

Fingerings on guitar are not too complicated if the guitarist is playing the upper parts of a "difficult" chord. Without trying to play the root, that is best played by the bass.

[BayviewSax]

Just describe those SUS4 chords to your bassist/guitarist as "THE WHO CHORD" or "THE PINBALL WIZARD CHORD" and they won't be afraid of it.