3 notes = C, E, G, = C major
4 notes = C, E, G, B = C major seventh
5 notes = C, E, G, B, D = C major ninth
6 notes = C, E, G, B, D, F = C major eleventh
7 notes = C, E, G, B, D, F, A = C major thirteenth
Other common major chords:
(Major also written as Maj or triangle)
C maj 6th = C, E, G, A
C maj add 9th = C, E, G, D
C maj 6/9 = C, E, G, A, D
C maj 7/6 = C, E, G, B, A
C sus = C, F, G
C sus 2 = C, D, G
C maj sus 2/7 = C, D, G, B
Any of these chords can replace the C major chord (C/R, E/3rd, G/5th) with the above chords.
This also applies to minor chords. See example with the A minor chord: (The Aeolian mode is also known as the relative minor to C major)
3 notes = A, C, E = A minor (Am)
4 notes = A, C, E, G = A minor seventh (Am7)
5 notes = A, C, E, G, B = A minor ninth (Am9)
6 notes = A, C, E, G, B, D = A minor eleventh (Am11)
7 notes = A, C, E, G, B, D, F = A minor eleventh add thirteenth (Am11/b13)
Other common minor chords:
(small m means minor - also / means to add those
additional notes to the original 3 note chord)
Am/9 = A, C, E, B
Am/11 = A, C, E, D
Am7/11 = A, C, E, G, D
Am7/b13 = A, C, E, G, F
Am9/b13 = A, C, E, G, B, F
Am7/11/b13 = A, C, E, G, D, F
Am/b6 = A, C, E, F
Am/b6/9 = A, C, E, F, B
Am/b6/11 = A, C, E, F, D
Am/b6/9/11 = A, C, E, F, B, D
Am7+ = A, C, F, G
Am7+/9 = A, C, F, B
Am7+/9/11 = A, C, F, B, D
Any of these chords can replace the A minor chord (A/R, Eb/b3rd, G/5th) with the above chords.
This also applies to dominant chords. See example with the G dominant chord: (These chords are created from the C major scale also. Based on the fifth degree of the C Major scale)
3 notes = G, B, D = G major (G)
4 notes = G, B, D, F = G dominant seventh (G7)
5 notes = G, B, D, F, A = G dominant ninth (G9)
6 notes = G, B, D, F, A, C = G dominant eleventh (G11)
7 notes = G, B, D, F, A, C, E = G dominant thirteenth (G13)
Other common dominant chords:
(dominant also written as 7)
G7/6th = G, B, D, F, E
G maj 6th = G, B, D, E
G maj add 9th = G, B, D, A
G maj 6/9 = G, B, D, E, A
G sus = G, C, D
G sus 2 = G, A, D
G7 sus = G, C, D, F
G7 sus 2 = G, A, D, F
G7/6 sus = G, C, D, F, E
G13 sus = G, D, F, A, C, E
(remember 6 functions also as 13)
Any of these chords can replace the G dominant chord (G/R, B/3rd, D/5th, F/b7) using the above chords.
As always transpose to all keys!
All materials copy-write 2010. For personal use only.
Vince Lauria Sun and Earth Music.
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