Altered Chords

Definition

Altered chords are chords that have one or more of their notes changed from the expected notes within a diatonic scale, often involving raised or lowered tones. These modifications typically occur to create tension or to enhance harmonic progressions, making them essential in various styles of music, especially jazz and modern classical compositions. By altering specific tones, composers can achieve greater expressiveness and complexity in their harmonic language.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Altered chords commonly include modifications such as flat or sharp ninths, elevenths, or thirteenths, allowing for rich harmonic colors.
2. These chords are often used as dominant chords in jazz progressions, particularly in V7 chords that resolve to a I chord.
3. The use of altered chords can create chromaticism within a piece, providing smoother transitions between keys and increasing musical interest.
4. Enharmonic changes may lead to different interpretations of altered chords, affecting their voicing and how they fit into harmonic contexts.
5. Composers often use altered chords to create unexpected resolutions, leading to surprising shifts in harmony that can captivate listeners.

Review Questions

• How do altered chords contribute to the tension and resolution in harmonic progressions?
  • Altered chords create tension by introducing unexpected notes that deviate from the expected diatonic harmony. This tension is often resolved when the altered chord moves to a more stable chord, such as a tonic. In this way, altered chords play a crucial role in guiding the listener's emotional experience through heightened anticipation and eventual satisfaction in harmonic resolution.
• Discuss the role of altered chords in chromatic modulation and how they enhance transitions between keys.
  • Altered chords serve as powerful tools for chromatic modulation by introducing notes that facilitate smoother transitions between different keys. For example, an altered dominant chord can lead into a new key center by using common tones or half-step movements that ease the listener into the change. This process enhances the fluidity of harmonic progression and enriches the overall texture of the composition.
• Evaluate the impact of altered chords on modern musical styles and their effectiveness in creating complexity and expressiveness.
  • Altered chords have significantly influenced modern musical styles by allowing composers and performers to explore complex harmonic structures. Their ability to create dissonance and tension adds depth to musical expression, enabling artists to convey nuanced emotions and sophisticated ideas. This versatility makes altered chords essential in genres like jazz, where improvisation often relies on quick shifts between these harmonically rich structures, demonstrating their effectiveness in creating engaging musical narratives.

Related terms

Diatonic Chord: A chord built from the notes of a specific key, following the rules of that key's scale without any alterations.

Tension:

The sense of instability or suspense created in music, often resolved by moving to a more stable chord.

Suspended Chord: A chord where the third is replaced by either a second or a fourth, creating a sense of unresolved tension.