20. Voicing, Arpeggios and Low Interval Limits

Basic Knowledge and Techniques Needed to Apply Chords

Before using the "major diatonic chords (triads and four-note chords)" we have learned so far in practice, let's deepen our understanding of chords a little more.

This time, you'll learn three topics: "voicing," "arpeggios" and "low interval limits".
As with last time, this is important knowledge that helps when building chord progressions for songs and arranging instruments, so be sure to master it.

Voicing

Put simply, voicing is the order in which you stack the notes in a chord.
As we touched on last time, chords can be expressed with various note arrangements besides root position, and you use them according to the progression, the arrangement or the instrument.

There are various ways of classifying voicings, but first let's get to grips with the following two types.

• Closed voicing
• Open voicing

We'll go into each in detail separately.

Closed Voicing

As shown below, an arrangement in which all the chord tones fit within one octave is called a "closed voicing."

A closed voicing gives a strong sense of "unity" between the notes, but it can sound cramped in the high register and muddy in the low register.

Open Voicing

On the other hand, an arrangement in which the chord tones don't fit within one octave is called an "open voicing."

In an open voicing, the intervals between the notes are wider, so each note stands on its own, and by covering a wide range, it gives a spacious impression to the ear.
Which voicing you choose depends on the sound you want and the instrument you use.

The most standard arrangement of notes for playing a C major chord on guitar, which came up last time, was an open voicing.

The following video is also a useful reference on the difference between closed and open voicings, so be sure to watch it.

Arpeggio

An arpeggio is a type of broken chord.
*It is sometimes also written as "arpeggio" with a different Japanese spelling.

A broken chord is a way of playing the chord tones at different timings rather than all at once.
In this case, the key point is that the notes can be played in any order.

An arpeggio refers to playing the chord tones one at a time in order from lowest to highest (or the reverse), but
these days, broken chords in general are often called arpeggios.

Still, it's good to know the difference between them.
Below are arpeggio samples.

Chord progression Dm → G → C

Chord progression Dm7 → G7 → C

Low Interval Limit

To understand low interval limits, first listen to two Cmaj7 chords.

The first one

The first is beautiful, but the second sounds so unpleasant it's hard to believe it's the same chord, right?
Let's check it on the piano roll.

In the low register, stacking notes close together can make them sound muddy.
As a guideline to prevent this, the definition of how far apart low notes need to be to avoid sounding muddy when stacked is the "low interval limit".

By the common definition, the following are the "limits" (lowest ranges) for each interval, and going lower than these is said to sound muddy.
Here, C3 is middle C.

The strict definitions differ by instrument, and some music deliberately uses ranges said to be muddy (such as horror background music).
Even so, it's still necessary to keep a certain guideline in mind.
If something sounds strange while you're composing or arranging, remember the low interval limit.

Next time, we'll return to explaining diatonic chords.
While studying music, have you ever seen Roman numerals such as IIm7 or IV?
It's an excellent notation that makes diatonic chords feel much more familiar.
You'll surely master it, so stay tuned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How should I choose between closed and open voicings?

Choose according to the sound you want and the instrument you're using. Closed voicings suit situations that need unity and density, while open voicings suit situations that need spaciousness and a relaxed feel. In the high register, open voicings help avoid a cramped sound.

Q2. What is the difference between an arpeggio and a broken chord?

A broken chord refers generally to playing chord tones at staggered timings in any order. An arpeggio, on the other hand, is a specific method of playing chord tones in order from low to high (or the reverse). Today, "arpeggio" is often used to refer to broken chords in general.

Q3. What happens if I place low notes below the low interval limit?

If notes in the low register are too close together, their frequencies interfere and create a muddy, unpleasant sound. In ranges below the guideline, widening the distance between notes improves the sound to a clear, transparent one.