It is certain that every chord combination has tones that distinguish it from others and give it its personality. I am going to review a very simple way to add a little bit extra boost to the chords you might already know.
So lets start with major, I will use a simple diagram to illustrate this. I have used the key of C major because there are no sharps or flats. But, by all means, transpose.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (8)
C D E F G A B C
8 9 X 11 X 13 X X
MAJOR
1,3,5
C,E,G
Major 6
1,3,5,6
C,E,G,A
Major 7
1,3,5,7
C,E,G,B
Major 9
1,3,5,7,9
C,E,G,B,D
Major (add 9)
1,3,5,9
C,E,G,D
Major 6/9
1,3,5,6,9
C,E,G,A,D
Major 13
1,3,5,7,9,13
C,E,G,B,D,A
You may “tweak” things in various ways, such as major #9 (sharp nine) C,E,G,B,D#
or a flat nine (D flat) to further paint things to your preferences.
Dominant 7
1,3,5,flat 7
C,E,G,Bflat
Dominant 7/6
1,3,5,6,flat7,
C,E,G,A,Bflat
Dominant 7/11
1,3,5,flat7,11
C,E,G,Bflat,F
Dominant 7 suspended
1,4,5,flat7
C,F,G,Bflat
Dominant 7/6th (sus)
1,4,5,6,flat7
C,F,G,A,Bflat
Dominant 9
1,3,5,flat7,9
C,E,G,Bflat,D
Dominant 11
1,3,5,flat7,9,11
C,E,G,Bflat,D,F
Dominant 13
1,3,5,flat7,9,13
C,E,G,Bflat,D,A
Augmented
1,3,sharp5
C,E,Gsharp
NOTE: All of these chords please the ear in different ways so experiment to find what you like.
I will now move to minor formulas. The relative minor to C major is A, and once again there are no sharps or flats in the key signature.
A MINOR
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (8)
A B C D E F G A
8 9 X 11 X 13 X X
A MAJOR
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (8)
A B Csharp D E Fsharp Gsharp A
MINOR
1,flat3,5
A,C,E
Minor 6
1,flat3,5,6
A,C,E,F
Minor 7
1,flat3,5,flat7
A,C,E,G
Minor 9
1,flat3,5,flat7,9
A,C,E,G,B
Minor 11
1,flat3,5,flat7,11
A,C,E,G,D
Minor 13
1,flat3,5,flat7,11,13
A,C,E,G,D,F
Half Diminished
1,flat3,flat5,flat7
A,C,Eflat,G
Diminished
1,flat3,flat5,doubleflat7
A,C,Eflat,Gflat
Also try:
suspended 13
1,4,5,flat7,9,13
A,D,E,G,B,F
minor 6/9
1,flat3,5,6,9
A,C,E,F,B
Once again, you may also twist things and play further “outside” with a sharp or flat applied to the 9 or 11 or 13.
Often I use all of these chord formulas as arpeggios on top of standard and correlating triads for various effects.
Remember that the further you tweak things the more dissonant things will sound, so dont say I did not warn you.
Experiment, and as usual have fun.
more articles by John Endris
