Altered Chords

Definition

Altered chords are chords that include one or more notes that have been changed from their original form, typically involving alterations to the 5th or 9th degree of the scale. These chords add tension and color to music, often used in jazz and advanced harmony techniques to create a sense of movement and resolution. By incorporating altered tones, composers and songwriters can expand harmonic possibilities and evoke different emotions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Altered chords are primarily used in jazz and contemporary music to introduce complexity and unexpected harmonic shifts.
2. Common alterations include raising or lowering the 5th, 9th, or even the 11th degrees of the chord.
3. Altered dominant chords, such as G7#9 or C7b5, create a strong pull towards resolution, making them effective for leading into tonic chords.
4. These chords are often notated using symbols like 'alt' or by specifying which alterations are present (e.g., C7#9).
5. Incorporating altered chords into a progression can enhance emotional expression, making the music feel more dynamic and engaging.

Review Questions

• How do altered chords contribute to the emotional quality of a musical piece?
  • Altered chords enhance the emotional quality of a piece by introducing tension and color that can evoke different feelings. By altering specific notes within a chord, songwriters create a sense of movement that makes the music more dynamic. This tension often leads to resolutions that can provide relief or heightened emotion, allowing listeners to engage more deeply with the music.
• Discuss the relationship between altered chords and traditional chord progressions in advanced harmony techniques.
  • Altered chords play a significant role in transforming traditional chord progressions by adding layers of complexity and unexpected resolutions. While standard progressions may rely on diatonic chords for their structure, incorporating altered chords introduces chromaticism and tension that challenge conventional harmonic expectations. This allows composers to explore new territories in their music while maintaining coherence within the overall progression.
• Evaluate the impact of using altered chords on the overall harmonic structure of a composition, particularly in jazz.
  • Using altered chords profoundly impacts the harmonic structure of a composition by expanding the palette of sounds available to composers, especially in jazz. They allow for richer harmonic textures and greater emotional depth, providing unique pathways for improvisation and expression. This shift towards more complex harmonies challenges musicians to rethink traditional roles within a piece, encouraging creativity and innovation while still adhering to an underlying sense of unity.

Related terms

Diminished Chord: A chord made up of two minor thirds stacked on top of each other, creating a tense sound often used in transition or to create tension.

Dominant Seventh Chord: A four-note chord consisting of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh, often used in jazz and blues to create a strong resolution.

Suspended Chord: A chord that replaces the third with either the second or fourth degree, creating a sense of suspension that typically resolves back to a major or minor chord.