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.