UST vs Jovinos/Hermetos tree triad concept

Jazz Theory Discussion
1

Hi, like many of you I am trying to slowly digest all the fantastic information here on the site little by little. One thing that puzzles me: In the concept of upper structure triads and in Jovinos/Hermeto Pasquals tree concept we find/use different triads like building blocks which we can superimpose on the basic 137 thinking. As I understand it you mostly use UST on dominant chords but sometimes in other places as well.

The way I have understood it so far is that you use UST more like a tool to get a logic to quickly understand how and where you can use altered tones, and get a framework for certain chord types to use. Whereas Jovinos concept is more a way to expand your melodic thinking (right or wrong?).

But I would be very interested to hear you teachers thoughts about this? It would certainly clear up some question marks for me at least.

2

Great question @fredrik.

Yes we can apply triads in both a harmonic context, and in a melodic context. Below I have included more explanation and the most relevant lessons, seminars, and PDF downloads.

Triads In A Harmonic Context (USTs)

You are correct that triads can have harmonic applications such as in Upper Structure Triads - mainly when applied over dominant chords but also applicable to major, minor, and -7b5 chords.

The following 4 links contain relevant info relating to dominant chord USTs:

I would recommend printing the Upper Structure Cheat Sheet and stick it close to your piano or on your piano for quick and easy reference:

Upper-Structure-Cheat-Sheet
Upper-Structure-Cheat-Sheet1920×626 89.3 KB

When playing jazz standards, if we want to harmonise a melody note with an upper structure triad, we follow this process:

  1. Find a dominant chord on a lead sheet or in any tune that we are playing

  2. Identify the scale degree of the melody (very important step)

  3. Match the melody scale degree to one of the UST chord tones in the far right column

  4. This will tell us which triad will work (sometimes we have more than one triad option)

  5. Invert the right hand triad so that we have the correct melody note on top of the voicing.

After some time following this process, you will remember which USTs work with which melody notes. For example, every time we have a dominant chord with the 13th in the melody, we can play either UST 2 or UST 6. Often one will work better than the other, and sometimes it is just personal taste as to which one to choose.

Now, when we first try to apply this to a chord, an Eb7 for example, it might take you a few minutes to visualise the F Triad (UST 2) or the C Triad (UST 6) but after you have done this many times over the same chord (Eb7 in this case), it becomes second nature for our right hand to gravitate towards those triad shapes.

Pro Tip: If you can memorise the UST formulas from the table below, that will make the process much quicker for you. To start with print out the table and stick it close to the piano.

Triads In A Melodic Context

Triads can also be applied in a melodic context as a means to derive melodies when improvising. This concept is presented in detail in the following lessons, seminars and PDF files:

And PDF Files:


Another application can be found here in Tuomo’s lesson on Triad Pairs In Improvisation