Unit 1-3: Extended Chord Notation

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Construct and identify sus chords, power chords, added chords, and extended chords in repertoire using lead sheet notation.
Describe how different chord types change the effect of the chord, add dissonance or movement to a progression, and suggest different styles of music.
Embellish a basic chord progression using sus, power chords, added notes, and extensions.

Preparation for Class

Read:

Hutchinson, Music Theory for the 21st Century Classroom
Sus Chords (Wilmoth, PopGrammar)
Extended Chords (Trevor de Clercq, The Practice of Popular Music, pp. 367–372) - Available online through the library

Watch

Skim through the videos to listen to a few examples of each chord type.

Songs using Sus4 and Sus2
(David Bennett, 9 mins) - Just watch 0:00–9:34

Songs that Use Power Chords
(David Bennett, 9 mins)

Songs that use 9th, 11th, and 13th Chords
(David Bennett, 17 mins)

Songs that Use 6th Chords
(Bennett, 15 mins)

Explore

Check out the chord player on ToneGym here to see and hear a whole selection of added, sus, and extended chords played on any given root note.

Then, check out ChordChord here to build your own chord progression and hear it. There's a short 2-minute video here to show you how to use the tool.

Reference Aids

References for Reading Lead Sheet Notation:

Chord Additions & Extensions: PDF, MuseScore (Sarah Louden)
Common Chords (Stephanie Acevedo)
Advanced Chart with Voicing (Philip Tagg)

Power Chords
Source: The examples below and audio are from LearnGuitarMalta's guide to Punk Punk here.

Click on the pics below to hear the chords played on electric guitar. Or use the links here: Example 1, Example 2, Example 3.

This is a notation diagram showing A5 (A, E, A), D5 (D, A, D), and E5 (E, B, E).

This is a music notation diagram showing a sequence of four power chords labeled A5, E5, F#5, and D5, with corresponding standard notation and tablature. Shown in standard notation with the notes A (5th fret on the low E string), E (7th fret on the A string), and A (7th fret on the D string). Tablature underneath shows "5 7 7." E5 Chord: Shown in standard notation with the notes E (open E string), B (9th fret on the D string), and E (9th fret on the G string). Tablature underneath shows "7 9 9." F#5 Chord: Shown in standard notation with the notes F# (11th fret on the A string), C# (11th fret on the D string), and F# (11th fret on the G string). Tablature underneath shows "9 11 11." D5 Chord: Shown in standard notation with the notes D (5th fret on the A string), A (7th fret on the D string), and D (7th fret on the G string). Tablature underneath shows "5 7 7."

This is a music notation diagram showing A5 (A, E, A), F-sharp 5 (F-sharp, C-sharp, F-sharp), C-sharp5 (C-sharp, G-sharp, C-sharp), and G-sharp 5 (G-sharp, D-sharp, G-sharp).

In-Class Activities

Suggested Fundamentals Review

Brush up on your fundamentals using the links in the "Additional Practice" section below. Aim for speed and accuracy!
- - Continued practice with keys and chord spelling
  - Scale Degree ID
  - Roman Numerals: Spelling and Identifying the quality of Roman numerals in major and minor keys.

Discussion

Definitions: Define each of the following chord symbols. Explain how to spell it and which notes are typically omitted. Then, break into pairs. Pick a random list of chord roots and build chords on top of each root (e.g. F9, Dadd2, F#6, Asus2, etc.). Number your chords and create a "solution" that identifies what the chord is. Then swap your numbered chords with another group and see if they can identify the chords you've spelled correctly using lead sheet notation. Discuss any disagreements.
- - Extensions: C9, C11, C13, and alterations like C7(b9/#11)
  - Added Chords: Cadd2, Cadd9, C6, C6/9
  - Sus Chords: Csus, Csus2, C7sus

Activities

Practice Worksheets: Practice spelling and identifying sus chords, added chords, power chords, and extended chords.
- - Worksheets with Mixed Practice (Louden)
    - - Worksheet 1: PDF | MuseScore (Solution: PDF | MuseScore)
      - Worksheet 2: (PDF | DOC)
      - Examples from Pop Repertoire: Google Doc (with embedded MuseScore links). Instructor Solution.
  - Worksheet with Extensions Only: Open Music Theory (PDF | MuseScore)
Lead Sheet Practice : Flip through song charts and practice spelling the chord notation you see. If you run across something you don't recognize look it up! Here are a few collections to practice with and a few suggested songs to get you started:
- - Jazz Fake Book (e.g. Greene's "All About Ronnie on p. 38, Altman's "All or Nothing at All" on p. 41, Herman's "Apple Honey" on p. 48, or Cole's "D.C. Farewell" on p. 93)
  - Broadway Songs (e.g. Sondheim's "Broadway Baby" from Follies on p. 35, or Kander's "Cabaret" from Caberet on p. 46)
Embellishing Progressions: Try embellishing each of the following chord progressions by adding extensions, added notes, or sus tones to the chords. Play your progression on the piano or use an online tool like ChordChord (see the directions "Explore" section above). Experiment with harmonic rhythm and try adding in additional chords.
- - I - V - vi - IV
  - vi - IV - I - V
  - i - bVII - bVI - V
  - I - iii - IV - V
  - I - vi - IV - V
  - I - II - IV - I

Repertoire for Practice

Chord Spelling/ID: This page of the anthology includes examples with sus chords, added chords, power chords, and extended chords for listening, analysis, and chord spelling practice.

Anthology: Jazz/Pop Chords

Assignment

Assignment 1-3

NEXT STEP

Next Lesson: Pitch Collections

Additional Practice

Musition:
- - Jazz Chord Symbols: All Levels
  - Chords: Lvls 1–6a
Auralia:
- - Forms: Lvls 5a–c
  - Chord Recognition: Lvls 7–8b

Fundamentals Review
- - Scale Degree ID:
    - - In Major
      - In Minor
  - Roman Numerals (in Quizlet)
    - - Triad Qualities
      - Roman Numeral Spelling in the key of: Ab Major, F Major, E Major, Db Major, C# minor, G minor, B minor
  - Triad Construction: M, m, dim Triads
  - 7th Chord Construction: All 7th Chords
  - Key Signatures:
    - - Construction: Major, Minor
      - ID: Major, Minor

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