Introduction to Extended and Altered Chords
Extended and altered chords are fundamental in jazz music, providing rich harmonic textures and complex sounds that define the genre's unique character. Extended chords go beyond the basic triads and seventh chords by adding additional tones, such as the ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth. This addition creates a more nuanced sound that enhances the chord's function and emotional impact.
Extended Chords
- Definition: Beyond seventh chords, these include additional tensions like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths.
- Function: Enriches harmonic complexity and supports melodic lines.
- Example: Cmaj7 (C-E-G-B) becomes C13 (C-E-G-B-D-F-A).
Altered Chords
Altered chords modify the extensions of traditional chords, particularly the dominant chords, to create tension that resolves pleasingly. This alteration often involves raising or lowering specific notes, such as the fifth or ninth, leading to more dissonant but interesting sounds that resolve smoothly to tonic chords.
- Definition: Dominant chords with modified tensions (e.g., ♯9, ♭5).
- Function: Creates tension and prepares resolution.
- Example: G7 (G-B-D-F) alters to G7♯9 (G-B-D-F-♯A).
The Role of Extended Chords in Jazz
Extended chords are vital in jazz for creating seamless melodic lines and rich harmonic backgrounds. They allow musicians to improvise more freely, as the added tones provide multiple non-chord tones that can be experimented with in solos. This flexibility helps shape the distinctive sound of jazz, where melody and harmony are deeply intertwined.
Common Extended Chords in Jazz
Jazz musicians frequently use specific extended chords to achieve characteristic sounds and support complex progressions. Understanding these chords and their relationships helps musicians communicate more effectively within ensembles, as they outline both harmonic structure and potential melodic paths.
| Chord Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Major 13th | 1-3-5-7-9-11-13 | Cmaj13 |
| Minor 7♭5 (Half-Diminished) | 1-3-♭5-7-9 | Am7♭5 |
| Dominant 9th | 1-3-5-7-9 | G9 |
| Dominant 13th | 1-3-5-7-9-11 | G13 |
| Minor 13th | 1-3-5-7-9-11-13 | Cm13 |
| Diminished 7th | 1-♭3-♭5-♭7 (often with 9) | Bdim7 |
The Function of Altered Chords in Jazz
Altered chords serve to heighten tension within a progression, leading listeners’ ears toward resolution. By modifying dominant chords, jazz musicians can create strong functional relationships that guide harmonic motion. This tension-and-release mechanism is central to jazz’s expressive power, allowing for emotional peaks and valleys in the music.
Common Altered Chords in Jazz
Knowing how to construct and use altered chords is essential for jazz musicians. These chords typically modify the ninth, fifth, or seventh to create unique sounds that demand resolution, enriching the harmonic language of jazz. They are often used in transitional passages to build anticipation.
| Chord Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Altered Dominant | 1-3-5-7-(♯9/♭9)-(♭5/♯5) | G7♯9, G7♭5 |
| 7♯9 | 1-3-5-7-♯9 | G7♯9 |
| 7♭5 | 1-3-5-7-♭5 | G7♭5 |
| 7♯9♭13 | 1-3-5-7-♯9-♭13 | G7♯9♭13 |
| 9♭13 | 1-3-5-♭9-♭13 | C9♭13 |
| Diminished | 1-♭3-♭5-♭7 (often resolving to a V7) | Bdim7 |