Quote:
Originally Posted by iltpff
Fretsource, how do you know which ones you should or should not play with the chord?
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Chord tones (notes) are always safe. You just have to learn which notes chords are composed of.
Notes that aren't part of the chord but part of the key will mostly sound ok too. For example if the key is C major and the chord being played is C major and you play the note B along with it, there will be a slightly dissonant sound (clash) because B isn't part of the C major chord. It won't be too dissonant though because B is still part of the C major scale. That mild dissonance makes it all the more interesting.
Out of key notes are the most dissonant of all. In the key of C major, that means any sharp or flat notes. They don't have to be avoided like the plague, but they must be handled with care.
For example if a C major chord is being played and you play the note F# along with it, you'll hear a strong clash. But if you quickly move up to the note G, you'll hear that the F# rising to G sounds great.
Dissonance isn't necessarily bad - it can produce fascinating sounds in capable hands . The opening to Hendrix's "Purple Haze" is highly dissonant - and great!