Open fifths are a good starting point to learn about chords. But I promise we will not go too deep too fast. Open Fifth is defined as a chord comprised of the tonic (first note in the scale) and the fifth note in the scale with no third note present.
Open fifths can be a supporting baseline for a melody. Play a fifth at the beginning of each phrase or create a simple duet with one person playing the melody on bell tree and one person playing the baseline fifths. Open fifths can also be used to integrate bells into contemporary music.
The first step is defining the fifths needed to support the melody. Here is a short video to demonstrate the following steps.
You will need two tools:
A lead sheet which is simply the music with guitar chords. Most melodies have lead sheets available online. Search for “tune name lead sheet” e.g. “Hyfrydol lead sheet.”
You will also need a circle of fifths. A printable version can found here.
Steps:
- Locate the first guitar chord. In this case F.
- Using the circle of fifths, find the chord name. The letter in the chord name is the tonic – the first note in the chord.
- The next note clockwise around the circle is the fifth.
- These two notes make the Open Fifth. Be sure to honor the key signature of the piece. For example, if there is one sharp and F is one of the notes in the Open Fifth, use F#.
- Repeat the process for each of the chords on the lead sheet.
Example of using Open Fifth at the beginning of each phrase. Ellie Hodder – Let All Mortal Flesh
When playing Open Fifths as the baseline in a duet or a hymn embellishment, quick passages can be difficult on the standard keyboard order bell tree when you transition between strings. This is a time when cymbells would be a great solution. In a traditional bell tree it can be more easily accomplished by stringing fifths together. Unfortunately, this approach makes it difficult to combine other techniques with open fifths.
Another solution is to apply bell tree knowledge to chimes. Play the melody on the bell tree and have a partner play the fifths on chimes. Here is a video that demonstrates how to make a chime glockenspiel. Create a handchime glockenspiel – video
Combine bell tree melody and chime glockenspiel for a duet. This can be applied to any tune. Example: Hyfrydol in C, duet with bell tree and chime glockenspiel (video)
Updated 240820
Creative Bell Tree Instructional Series 052620
@2020 Karen Van Wert, [email protected]