Rather than searching for a "rule of thumb" for balancing a chord, I prefer a scrupulous concentration on a beautiful band sound. When that is done and applied consistently, many of the other issues disappear.
A helpful exercise is to play a long tone well-tuned root and fifth with no third at all. Listen carefully, and you will hear the third from the interplay of harmonics. The conclusion is that very little third is needed to complete a major chord. That does not apply to any other harmony.
Thus, the need to balance and "tone" the band is the greatest part of the work to be done. Then we deal with the problematic sonorities as they arise.
Responses « Back to index | View thread »