Inside Music: Chord Names & Symbols (Part 3)

INSIDE MUSIC

Sort by Topic
Sort by Date
Inside Music page
Resources page
Richard M. Home Page

by Richard Middleton

"Understanding Chord Names & Symbols" (Part 3)

We finish our series on chords and chord symbols by looking at extended chords. These are chords whose names include numbers higher than 8, like CMaj9, G13, and Dmin11.

As we learned last time, the 9th of a chord is the same tone as a 2nd. That is, the 9th of a C chord is D, a maj 9th (or maj. 2nd) up from the root, C. The 11th is the same as a 4th, and the 13th is the same as the 6th. To get the lower “version” of an extension, just subtract 7: 9 - 7 = 2, 11 - 7 = 4, 13 - 7 = 6.

But how do you know whether to call a D in a C chord a 2 or a 9? It depends on the rest of the chord. A 9th implies the 7th as well, so a CMaj9 chord is CMaj7 with a 9th (D) added; C9 is C7 with a 9th added; and Cmin9 is Cmin7 with a 9th added. However, in “sus2” chords, the 2nd replaces the 3rd, and there’s no 7th: Csus2 is C, D, and G (no E).

What about an F in a C chord, is it an 11 or a sus4? Again, it depends on the rest of the chord. The sus4 tone takes the place of the 3rd: Csus4 is C, F, and G. But the 11th doesn’t, which means there’s still a 3rd. If it’s a maj 3rd, the 11th sounds very dissonant against it, so avoid 11’s in maj. and dom. chords (except sharp-11’s -- see below). But 11’s sound great in minor chords because they don’t clash with the 3rd. Minor 11th chords also have 9th’s and 7th’s, so think of Cmin11 as a Cmin9 with an 11 added: C, E-flat, G, B-flat, D, and F.

(NOTE: Last month I said that Maj7 chords never have a sus4, which was an overstatement. It’s not that you can’t play it -- it’s actually a very cool chord -- but in terms of reading lead sheets, song books, etc., you will rarely see a Maj7sus4 chord symbol. This is certain assumptions are built into these symbols; one such assumption is that Maj7 chords usually don't have a sus4.)

The 13th is used in dom7 chords (the same tone in maj. and min. chords is called a 6th, usually replacing the 7th). 13th chords have 9th’s and 7th’s, but no 11th’s (because of the clash between 11th’s and maj. 3rd’s -- see above). C13 is C, E, G, B-flat, D, and A (no F).

The tones in extended chords can be arranged in whatever order you choose, but certain voicings are more common. One of the extensions is often voiced on top to make it ring out more clearly, but they can also add richness and density voiced lower down.

Chords often have altered tones such as “flat-9,” “sharp-9” (AKA “+9”), “flat-13,” etc. Usually they’re used in dom7 chords: C7(flat 9), C13(flat 9), etc. “Flat-9” means the 9th of the chord has been lowered one half-step: C7(flat 9) has a D-flat instead of a D. “Sharp-9” raises the 9th a half-step: C7(sharp 9) is C, E, G, B-flat, and D-sharp. “Flat-13” lowers the 13th a half-step: C7(flat13) is C, E, G, B-flat, D, and A-flat. Alterations can be combined, e.g. C7(flat9, flat13) is: C, E, G, B-flat, D-flat, and A-flat. C+7(sharp9) is C, E, G-sharp (indicated by “+”), B-flat, and D-sharp.

Common alterations on Maj7 chords are sharp-11 and flat-5. In CMaj7, the flat-5 is G-flat and the sharp-11 is F-sharp. Aren’t they the same tone? Yes, but remember, the 11th (and sharp-11th) implies the 9th. Not only that, a sharp-11 chord also has a regular 5th. But a flat-5 chord has a lowered 5th, and no 9th (unless the chord symbol has a 9). CMaj7(flat-5) is C, E, G-flat, and B. But C Maj 7(sharp-11) is C, E, G, B, D, and F-sharp. Unlike regular 11’s, sharp-11’s don’t clash with the maj 3rd. Sharp-11’s and flat-5’s also sound great on dom7 chords. C7(sharp-11) is C, E, G, B-flat, D, and F-sharp. C7(flat-5) is C, E, G-flat, and B-flat.

Sometimes a minor chord will have a maj 7th instead of a min 7th. For example, Cmin(maj7) chord is C, E-flat, G, and B-natural (rather than B-flat). It’s a lovely, haunting sound.

Altered chords allow for more chromatic voice leading, but they can also be used for their own unique qualities without resolving to some other chord. In pop music, the most common example is the dom7sharp9 chord -- Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” and “Voodoo Child” both use it. Work with a good music theory book and/or a good teacher to learn how extended and altered chords work. If you have any questions about any of this material, feel free to contact me. Enjoy!

(Correction: In last month’s discussion of min7flat5 chords, I said they’re usually called half-diminished chords. I meant to say the opposite -- both names are correct, but min7flat5 is the more common of the two.)

Sort by Topic | Sort by Date

Inside Music page | Resources page