Monk Style

Karl G Helmer ( kgh@WPI.EDU )
Fri, 7 Feb 1997 10:46:53 -0500 (EST)

I'm now starting to transcribe some Monk solos (I won't get into
which method I'm using) and have started to wonder about a few things.
1) Monk seems to use a lot of two note groups that sound dissonant, but
still fit. What are these (minor 2nds?) and why do they fit so well?

2)What kind of chord voicings did he use? Sometimes what I transcribe
for his right hand sounds good, but doesn't really make sense (to me). Is he
using a chord voicing that makes the dissonance in the right hand sound
"right"?

I've been working off of the "Misterioso" album and in particular
on "All the things you are" and "Well, You Needn't". Getting his
chord voicings has been tough since 1) I'm not very good at this, and 2)
I'm a guitarist and am only a mediocre pianist and don't really know the
stock voicings to start from.

Thanks,

Karl Helmer