OFTEN USED CHORDS

In the following chapters, we shall examine often used chords, starting with the triad chords and ending with the thirteenth chords. For each chord quality, we shall give one example of a chord in its root close position together with its symbol. 

Triad chords

A major triad chord in its root close position is built by stacking the major third and the minor third over the chord root. The symbol for the major triad chord is the chord root alone. In this book, we shall annotate chord roots always in the uppercase. Also, we shall annotate chords always above the staff. The next figure shows the C major triad chord in its root close position.

Figure: The C major triad chord in the root close position and its symbol

A minor triad chord in its root close position is built by stacking the minor third and the major third over the chord root. The symbol for the minor triad chord is the chord root suffixed with the letter m. In this book, all chord root suffixes are shown in the superscript. Chord annotations are not entirely standardized. Thus, in practice we can see different variants. Sometimes, especially when the typesetting limitations do not allow using the superscript, ordinary script is used (for instance Am).

Figure: The A minor triad chord in the root close position and its symbol

An augmented triad chord in its root close position is built by stacking two major thirds over the chord root. The symbol for the augmented triad chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol +.

Figure: The C augmented triad chord in the root close position and its symbol

A diminished triad chord in its root close position is built by stacking two minor thirds over the chord root. The symbol for the diminished triad chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol o.

Figure: The B diminished triad chord in the root close position and its symbol

The next figure shows the augmented, major, minor and diminished triad chords in the root close position, with the chord root C. An interesting fact is that each of these chords can be obtained from the previous one by lowering exactly one of the non-root notes.

Figure: Triad chords on C

Seventh chords

A dominant seventh chord in its root close position is built by stacking the minor third over the major triad chord in the root close position. This is the same as stacking the major third and two minor thirds over the chord root. The symbol for the dominant seventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the number 7.

Figure: The G dominant seventh chord in the root close position and its symbol

A major seventh chord in its root close position is built by stacking the major third over the major triad chord in the root close position. The symbol for the major seventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol ∆7.

Figure: The C major seventh chord in the root close position and its symbol

A minor seventh chord in its root close position is built by stacking the minor third over the minor triad chord in the root close position. The symbol for the minor seventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol m7.

Figure: The D minor seventh chord in the root close position and its symbol

A diminished seventh chord in its root close position is built by stacking the minor third over the diminished triad chord in the root close position. The symbol for the diminished seventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol o7.

Figure: The B diminished seventh chord in the root close position and its symbol

A half-diminished seventh chord in its root close position is built by stacking the major third over the diminished triad chord in the root close position. The symbol for the half-diminished seventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol ø7.

Figure: The B half-diminished seventh chord in the root close position and its symbol

The next figure shows the major, dominant, minor, half-diminished and diminished seventh chords in the root close position, with the chord root C. An interesting fact is that each of these chords can be obtained from the previous one by lowering exactly one of the non-root notes.

Figure: Seventh chords on C

Extended chords

The ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords are called extended chords. They extend the seventh chords i.e. they are constructed from the seventh chords in the root close position by adding chord extensions to them. Chord extensions are the major ninth, perfect eleventh and major thirteenth added over the chord root. When we construct an extended chord of a certain chord quality, we use the seventh chord of the corresponding chord quality. For instance, the dominant ninth chord is constructed from the dominant seventh chord. This will be demonstrated in the following chapters.

Ninth chords

A dominant ninth chord in its root close position is built by extending the dominant seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the major third over the dominant seventh chord in the root close position. The symbol for the dominant ninth chord is the chord root suffixed with the number 9.

Figure: The C dominant ninth chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extension is marked in red)

Another type of dominant ninth chord exists: a dominant minor ninth chord. It is built by extending the dominant seventh chord in the root close position with the minor ninth over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the minor third over the dominant seventh chord in the root close position. The symbol for the dominant minor ninth chord is the chord root suffixed with the b9. This chord is an example of chords whose chord extension is altered.

Figure: The C dominant minor ninth chord in the root close position and its symbol (altered chord extension is marked in red)

A major ninth chord in its root close position is built by extending the major seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the minor third over the major seventh chord in the root close position. The symbol for the major ninth chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol ∆9.

Figure: The C major ninth chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extension is marked in red)

A minor ninth chord in its root close position is built by extending the minor seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the major third over the minor seventh chord in the root close position. The symbol for the minor ninth chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol m9.

Figure: The C minor ninth chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extension is marked in red)

The seventh chords of other chord qualities can also be extended to ninth chords. For instance, the chord C4 Eb4 Gb4 Bbb4 D5 is the C half-diminished ninth chord in the root close position. However, there is one exception. In practice, the diminished seventh chord is never seen extended (although this is theoretically possible). The reason is probably that the major thirteenth over the chord root gives the enharmonically same note name as the diminished seventh over the chord root.

In compositions from the common practice period, ninth chords practically never occur in any form other than the dominant ninth chord or dominant minor ninth chord. Also, the eleventh and thirteenth chords occur practically never. Thus, anyone who is overwhelmed with the number of new terms can freely skip the following chapters on the eleventh and thirteenth chords.

Eleventh chord

A dominant eleventh chord in its root close position is built by extending the dominant seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth and perfect eleventh over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the minor third over the dominant ninth chord in the root close position. The symbol for the dominant eleventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the number 11.

Figure: The C dominant eleventh chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extensions are marked in red)

A major eleventh chord in its root close position is built by extending the major seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth and perfect eleventh over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the minor third over the major ninth chord in the root close position. The symbol for the major eleventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol ∆11.

Figure: The C major eleventh chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extensions are marked in red)ž

A minor eleventh chord in its root close position is built by extending the minor seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth and perfect eleventh over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the minor third over the minor ninth chord in the root close position. The symbol for the minor ninth chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol m11.

Figure: The C minor eleventh chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extensions are marked in red)

As with the ninth chords, the seventh chords of other chord qualities can also be extended to eleventh chords, with the same exception of the diminished seventh chord.

Thirteenth chords

A dominant thirteenth chord in its root close position is built by extending the dominant seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth, perfect eleventh and major fifteenth over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the major third over the dominant eleventh chord in the root close position. The symbol for the dominant thirteenth chord is the chord root suffixed with the number 13.

Figure: The C dominant thirteenth chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extensions are marked in red)

A major thirteenth chord in its root close position is built by extending the major seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth, perfect eleventh and major fifteenth over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the major third over the major eleventh chord in the root close position. The symbol for the major eleventh chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol ∆13.

Figure: The C major thirteenth chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extensions are marked in red)

A minor thirteenth chord in its root close position is built by extending the minor seventh chord in the root close position with the major ninth, perfect eleventh and major fifteenth over the chord root. This is the same as stacking the major third over the minor eleventh chord in the root close position. The symbol for the dominant thirteenth chord is the chord root suffixed with the symbol m13.

Figure: The C minor thirteenth chord in the root close position and its symbol (chord extensions are marked in red)

As with the ninth and eleventh chords, the seventh chords of other chord qualities can also be extended to thirteenth chords, with the same exception of the diminished seventh chord.