Learn to play diamonds and only the dominant beats

Don’t overplay anymore!

Musicians can play too much. Some play too busy. Pianists and guitarists are often the greatest offenders. One of the ways to overcome this overuse of your instrument is to play diamonds and only on the dominant beats as the song calls for it. We will look at what are diamonds and dominant beats and why you should learn to use them appropriately in the article below.

What are diamonds?

Diamonds are typically whole notes. This means that a chord is hit once and sustained across the entire measure. Because the attack of the chord is hit at the beginning of the measure it enters with a short force, but then does not take up more musical space during the rest of the measure. The attack of a note is the most important part played. The decay, or sustain, is what remains afterwards and takes up less musical space in a mix.

We call these whole notes diamonds because they look like diamonds on the page when seen in professional rhythm charts. They aren’t always whole notes. Sometimes diamonds are half notes or dotted half notes. Ultimately, a diamond means playing sustained chords.

What does it mean to play on the dominant beats?

Perhaps a song calls less for true diamonds and more for chords played only on the dominate or down beats. This is often the case when a beat is syncopated. Syncopated means that the first note or hit is played on the first beat of the measure, but the second, where normally played on the third beat, is pushed forward to the “and” of the second beat. It creates a specific sounding rhythmic measure used often in popular music. It’s counted 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & where the second “&” is where the beat lands. Now the sustained chord, much like a diamond, feels pushed and you’ll play an extra hit per measure. This creates a strong rhythm without any busyness.

Why should you play diamonds and on the dominant beats?

Playing diamonds or on the dominant beats makes your sound fit perfectly with the other instruments in the mix. You know that your part is adding something of value. Plus, opening a song with diamonds leaves room for busier playing during the bigger parts of the song. Perhaps even coming back to diamonds in the quieter moments. Using well-placed diamonds is a professional skill that may not appear obvious to everyone. Now you know!

Summary & Action Steps

Playing less or performing at the right times instead of all the time is the key to playing as a professional. What do you think? Have you played tons of diamonds in your playing life? We would love to hear in the comments below. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them as well. We are a community of players who are sharpening each other’s skills. Play your diamonds!