Altered chords

Definition

Altered chords are chords that have had one or more of their tones modified, typically by raising or lowering a pitch. These modifications create tension and color within harmonic progressions, leading to a more complex sound that enhances musical expression. They are often used in jazz and contemporary music to create interesting harmonies and resolve back to more stable chords.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Altered chords are commonly derived from dominant seventh chords by altering the fifth, ninth, or eleventh degrees.
2. In jazz music, altered chords often appear in ii-V-I progressions where they enhance the resolution to the tonic chord.
3. The alterations can include raising or lowering notes by a half step, such as a flat ninth or sharp fifth.
4. Altered chords add complexity and richness to music, allowing composers and performers to explore different emotional landscapes.
5. Understanding altered chords is crucial for improvisation in jazz, as they provide opportunities for creative melodic lines over harmonic changes.

Review Questions

• How do altered chords function within a typical jazz progression?
  • In jazz, altered chords often function as dominant seventh chords that lead to resolution points within progressions like ii-V-I. By altering specific tones—like the ninth or fifth—the tension created enhances the movement toward the tonic. This added tension draws listeners in and prepares them for the satisfying resolution when returning to stable chords.
• Discuss the impact of altered chords on the emotional quality of music.
  • Altered chords greatly affect the emotional quality of music by introducing dissonance and tension, which evoke feelings of instability and excitement. These chords enrich harmonic language and can make transitions between themes more dynamic. As composers use these altered sounds strategically, they can evoke a wide range of emotions from suspense to exhilaration in their pieces.
• Evaluate the role of altered chords in the context of modern music genres beyond jazz.
  • Altered chords play a significant role in various modern music genres such as rock, pop, and electronic music. By incorporating altered harmonies, musicians can create unique soundscapes that stand out from traditional tonal structures. This usage reflects a broader trend towards experimentation in contemporary music, where artists seek to express individuality and innovation through complex harmonic choices, often leading listeners on unexpected auditory journeys.

Related terms

Diminished chord: A chord made up of two minor thirds stacked on top of each other, creating a tense and dissonant sound often used in altered harmonies.

Dominant seventh chord: A four-note chord consisting of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh, which can be altered by changing any of its intervals to create altered chords.

Tension: The feeling of instability in music that arises from dissonance, which altered chords contribute to by introducing unexpected sounds.