"to the genesys" has provided a well written explanation why.



doc-z: I think you may be confused. In auto-accompaniment mode, it's simply NOT POSSIBLE for your left hand to actually play bass lines "as the bass player" would.

The left hand's job (in auto accomp: full fingered split kb mode) is to trigger auto accomp chord recognition, and when emulating a jazz combo setting, with left voice on, and set to acoustic piano, provide the authentic sound of 'left-hand' jazz piano comping. In addition, your right hand, when set to the same LH 'acoustic piano' voice, can play stacked chord tone extension & alterations , providing a rich "2-hand" chord comping sound ala McCoy Tyner, while the arranger chord recognition remains triggered by what's played with your LH.

For instrumental soloing (sax, guitar, flute, etc), as "to the genesys' said, the right can freely play solos, while the left hand acts as the acoustic piano rhythm section player, providing the 'rootless comping chord' sound of an authentic jazz rhythm section piano player in a combo, yet able to trigger the auto accomp bass to play 'root based' bass lines. There is NO WAY to achieve this unless you play the rootless chords that I outlined above.


Yes, though this may work, it is extremely limiting. First of all, you would need to turn-OFF the LEFT voice. This would severely limit comping chords possibilities to whatever you can play with your 'right hand only'. Playing rootless chords in the left-hand allows you to fill the chord out with the right hand (stacked 4ths) to provide a much harmonically richer chord comping (ie: McCoy Tyner) sound: example:

F13: (LH: Eb1-A1-D2)(RH: G2-C3-F3)

In addition, your method, eliminates the possibility of playing the melody or instrumental soloing with your right hand.

Scott