Broken Chord Runs With Added Chromatic Notes

By Thomas Gunther

October 20, 2024

Broken Chord Runs Explained

What do I mean by broken chord runs?

Take, for example, a G major triad. We can play this thing one note at a time, which makes it a broken chord. On top of that, we can play it in different inversions. On top of that, we can change the order of the notes within each inversion. You can hardly imagine the incredible number of runs we can create. To get inspired, you can find many examples of how broken chord runs can be creatively used in classical piano music literature and pop and jazz music.

Adding In a chromatic note

At the beginning of this article, I discussed introducing a chromatic note into the mix. This makes our broken chord runs much more interesting.

Now would be an excellent time to watch my video tutorial based on this idea!

About the author

Thomas Gunther, also known as Thommy Günther in Germany, is a highly versatile jazz pianist, keyboardist, music producer, and educator with international recognition. He was born and raised in Germany, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Performing Jazz and Popular Music from the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart.

After relocating to Chicago, Thomas quickly became the principal pianist for the Chicago Jazz Ensemble, which is directed by the esteemed music arranger and composer William Russo. In this role, he had the opportunity to collaborate with renowned artists such as Randy Brecker, Body DiFranco, Archie Shepp, Jon Faddis, Cassandra Wilson, and Orbert Davis.

Currently, Thomas is an integral part of the Chicago music scene, performing with various groups both as a sideman and as a leader. He heads the Thomas Gunther Trio Plus and has toured Germany with the Thomas Gunther’s Taste Of Chicago Band. In addition to his performance career, he has produced, arranged, and recorded a substantial body of work, serving both in leadership roles and as a collaborator.

Thomas also provides music arranging and orchestration services for ensembles of all sizes, including contributions to the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. As an educator, he shares his expertise as an Adjunct Professor at Columbia College Chicago. For more information about Thomas, visit https://www.ThomasGunther.com.