Building Shell Voicings

Building Shell Voicings

I’ve decided that my next piano project is to internalize and memorize shell voicings in all keys. Why? The main benefit I’m aiming for is to expand my harmonic vocabulary, which will help me play more confidently from lead sheets and enhance spontaneous self-expression. I plan to write a separate post about adding the 5th to these voicings, but for now, I’m focusing on the basics: root in the left hand and the 3rd and 7th in the right. Eventually, I want to be able to add (or be comfortable adding) all the extensions of each chord.

If you’re interested in tackling this, this is the method that’s currently working for me.

Root (aka the 1) in left hand

Right hand, 3^rd and 7^th.

To the right is the memory aids that I am currently using, feel free to make your own. Proceed through the Circle of Fourths as follows.

3^rd and 7^th Flats & Natural:

C- E B sounds like “CEB”

F- A E sounds like the name “FAE”

B♭- A D say “BAD”

E♭- G D sounds like “EDGE”

A♭- C G like the band “AC/DC say ac gc but ignore the repeating c.

D♭- C F make up your own

G♭- B♭ F make up your own

3^rd and 7^th Sharps, these are just a semitone away from the above set:

F♯, A# F (can think of F as E♯ if helpful. Keeping the “FAE” theme as the F natural)

B- A# D#

E- D# G#

A- C# G#

D- C# F#

G- B F#

I am a life long learner if something is amiss please let me know so we can all benefit.