For similar terms, see Alteration (disambiguation) and Modification.
Not to be confused with Leading tone.
An altered dominant chord in C major[1]
An altered chord is a chord that replaces one or more notes from the diatonic scale with a neighboring pitch from the chromatic scale. By the broadest definition, any chord with a non-diatonic chord tone is an altered chord. The simplest example of altered chords is the use of borrowed chords, chords borrowed from the parallel key, and the most common is the use of secondary dominants. As Alfred Blatter explains, "An altered chord occurs when one of the standard, functional chords is given another quality by the modification of one or more components of the chord."[2]
For example, altered notes may be used as leading tones to emphasize their diatonic neighbors. Contrast this with chord extensions:
Whereas chord extension generally involves adding notes that are logically implied, chord alteration involves changing some of the typical notes. This is usually done on dominant chords, and the four alterations that are commonly used are the ♭5, ♯5, ♭9 and ♯9. Using one (or more) of these notes in a resolving dominant chord greatly increases the bite in the chord and therefore the power of the resolution.[3]
In jazz harmony, chromatic alteration is either the addition of notes not in the scale or expansion of a [chord] progression by adding extra non-diatonic chords.[4] For example, "A C major scale with an added D♯ note, for instance, is a chromatically altered scale" while, "one bar of Cmaj7 moving to Fmaj7 in the next bar can be chromatically altered by adding the ii and V of Fmaj7 on the second two beats of bar" one. Techniques include the ii–V–I turnaround, as well as movement by half-step or minor third.[5]
The five most common types of altered dominants are: V+, V7♯5 (both with raised fifths), V♭5, V7♭5 (both with lowered fifths), and Vø7 (with lowered fifth and third, the latter enharmonic to a raised ninth).[6]
^Cite error: The named reference Erickson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Blatter, Alfred (2007). Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice, p. 186. ISBN 0-415-97440-2.
^Baerman, Noah (1998). Complete Jazz Keyboard Method: Intermediate Jazz Keyboard, p. 70. ISBN 0-88284-911-5.
^Arkin, Eddie (2004). Creative Chord Substitution for Jazz Guitar, p. 42. ISBN 0-7579-2301-1.
definition, any chord with a non-diatonic chord tone is an alteredchord. The simplest example of alteredchords is the use of borrowed chords, chords borrowed...
Secondary chords are a type of altered or borrowed chord, chords that are not part of the music piece's key. They are the most common sort of alteredchord in...
other chord tones have been altered. These are: the fifth is altered to a ♭5 and a ♯5 the ninth is altered to a ♭9 and a ♯9 the eleventh is altered to a...
may be distinguished from secondary chords as well as alteredchords. According to Sheila Romeo, "[t]he borrowed chord suggests the sound of its own mode...
Jazz chords are chords, chord voicings and chord symbols that jazz musicians commonly use in composition, improvisation, and harmony. In jazz chords and...
to their respective tonics. Extended chords can also be altered dominants, and the extended pitch may be altered in several ways (such as V flat 13 in...
usually omitted for major chords), whether the chord is a triad, seventh chord, or an extended chord (e.g. Δ7), any altered notes (e.g. sharp five, or...
[tri-tone substitution and altered dominant] is usually a moot point. The alt chord is a heavily altered dominant seventh chord, built on the alt scale,...
alteredchord, created by lowering the fifth of a dominant seventh chord, and may use the whole-tone scale, as may the augmented minor seventh chord,...
altered predominant chord (typically, an alteration of ii4 3, IV6 5, vi7 or their parallel equivalents in the minor mode) leading to a dominant chord...
musical chords and simultaneities: Added tone chordAlteredchord Approach chordChord names and symbols (popular music) Chromatic mediant Common chord (music)...
version. The 7♯9 is an alteredchord, and it is one option when seeing the chord symbol 7alt. It is functionally a dominant chord and thus "wants" to resolve...
chords may have alterations specified in parentheses after the chord symbol. An altered note is a note which is a deviation from the canonical chord tone...
In music, augmented ninth chord may refer to: the Hendrix chord, a mixed-third chord: 0 4 7 t 3. an alteredchord, an augmented triad with an added ninth:...
theory, an eleventh chord is a chord that contains the tertian extension of the eleventh. Typically found in jazz, an eleventh chord also usually includes...
a chord, made up of two major thirds (an augmented fifth). The term augmented triad arises from an augmented triad being considered a major chord whose...
scale as "funky," "down-home," "earthy," or "bluesy."[page needed] Alteredchord Ferguson, Jim (2000). All Blues Scale for Jazz Guitar: Solos, Grooves...
composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are...
In music, a minor seventh chord is a seventh chord composed of a root note, a minor third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh (1, ♭3, 5, ♭7). In other...
In music theory, a dominant seventh chord, or major minor seventh chord, is a seventh chord, composed of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor...
In music theory, chord substitution is the technique of using a chord in place of another in a progression of chords, or a chord progression. Much of...
harmonic ideas into jazz, including rapid passing chords, new variants of alteredchords, and chord substitutions. Primarily a player of the alto saxophone...
dominant chords. The altered dominant scale, also loosely called the altered scale, is so named because all the scale members that can be altered relative...
synthetic scale, primarily used for implying and relating to various alteredchords, with major and minor qualities in each tetrachord. Thus the musical...
quality, i.e. major or minor. They may be alteredchords. Submediant chords may also appear as seventh chords: in major, as vi7, or in minor as VIM7 or...
reader needs to have thorough familiarity with extended chords (e.g., C13) and alteredchords (e.g., C7♯11). Introductions and codas are often omitted...
Global Information
