More Chord Over Chord/Octave with Example

One of the most popular usages is during a transition between verse and chorus or chorus and verse. This technique provides the pianist a way to put something in that transition other than just playing the ending chord of the verse and the beginning chord of the chorus over and over until the chorus begins. For example, if you are in the key of C and you are playing the song Amazing Grace. Let's use "Amazing Grace" because it's a song most people know, although this technique is useful on most songs.

During the transitiion between verses there is a "pause" (actually 8 beats) in which the pianist will have ended the verse with the C chord. The next verse will also begin with the C chord. During the 6 beats inbetween, it would sound pretty boring to just play the C chord with the left hand 6 times. Instead, you can use the chord over octave to fill up the space and make the transition sound very nice. At the middle of the transition you will use 4/5. That means that since F chord is the 4th change and G chord is the 5th change, you will play F chord on the right hand and G octave with the left hand. The chord changes should look something like this:

(end of verse one)

Am          G7   C              F/G Was blind but now I see.   TRANSITION (on the 4th beat)

(beginning of verse two)

C              C7             F         C Twas grace that taught my heart to fear.