Thursday, May 29, 2008

Chords and their uses

The following is a more in depth description of several chords and
their common uses:
  • Major 7 - gives a fuller sound, often used in jazz
  • Major 9 - used in jazz
  • Major6add9 - used often in country and in jazz
  • Suspended chords usually resolve to the major, often used to breakup a static vamp (instead a playing C the whole time, switch from C to Csus to C, etc)
  • Minor - sad chord
  • m6 - used in funk
  • m7 - used in funk
  • m7#5 - used in fusion
  • m11 - used in funk
  • m(M7) - dark, moody
  • Ninth - used in funk
  • Augmented - connecting chord
  • Diminished - passing chord
  • 7sus2 - used in folk
  • m#5 - often used as a IIIm chord
  • maj13#11 - used in soul
  • 9#11 - chromatic passing chord resolving down a half step, or as a substitute for a IV7 chord
  • 13#11 - same usage as 9#11
  • M7#11 - dramatic ending chord
  • M7b5#9 - ending chord, or a passing chord to I
  • m7b5 - usually used as a IIm in a minor key
  • 9sus4 (11) - most popular substitution for dominant 7 chords
  • Augmented 7 - V chord in a minor key
  • Diminished - substitute for second half of IV chord measure in the blues, one half step higher (C = I, F = IV, F#dim would be used)
  • The V chord may be substituted on the weak beats (2 and 4) for a Im
  • 7sus4b9 - V chord resolving to Im, or as I chord in Phrygian mode
  • m7#5 - IIIm in the harmonized major scale
  • 13b9 - V7 chord Alternate from M6 to M7 and back when playing a static I chord.

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