Altered chords

Definition

Altered chords are chords that have one or more notes changed or 'altered' from their standard form, typically involving modifications to the 5th, 9th, 11th, or 13th scale degrees. In jazz and particularly in bebop, these chords are crucial for adding tension and complexity to harmonic progressions, allowing for more expressive improvisation and intricate melodies.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Altered chords often appear in dominant seventh chords as alterations to the 9th and 13th degrees, such as flat 9 or sharp 11, creating a more colorful sound.
2. In bebop, altered chords are used to enhance harmonic progression and provide opportunities for complex improvisation over standard chord changes.
3. These chords contribute to the style's characteristic tension and resolution, allowing musicians to create dynamic contrasts within their solos.
4. Bebop musicians frequently use altered chords to expand the tonal palette available for improvisation, leading to innovative melodic ideas.
5. The use of altered chords is essential in creating 'passing chords,' which serve as bridges between more stable chords in a progression.

Review Questions

• How do altered chords contribute to the overall harmonic structure of bebop music?
  • Altered chords play a vital role in the harmonic structure of bebop by introducing tension and complexity into chord progressions. They allow musicians to deviate from traditional harmony and create richer, more varied soundscapes. This use of altered chords enables improvisers to express themselves more freely while navigating intricate harmonic landscapes, which is a hallmark of the bebop style.
• In what ways do altered chords differ from traditional chord structures in jazz, particularly in the context of bebop?
  • Altered chords differ from traditional chord structures in jazz by incorporating modifications that deviate from standard forms, such as flattened or sharpened extensions. In bebop, these alterations are used strategically to create dissonance that resolves into consonance, enhancing the music's emotional depth. This contrasts with earlier jazz styles that relied more on straightforward harmonic progressions, making bebop a more adventurous genre in terms of harmonic exploration.
• Evaluate the impact of altered chords on the improvisational techniques of bebop musicians and how they shape melodic development.
  • Altered chords significantly impact the improvisational techniques of bebop musicians by providing them with a broader range of notes and tensions to work with. This leads to innovative melodic development as musicians navigate these complex harmonies, often crafting lines that highlight or resolve tensions introduced by the altered tones. The presence of these chords encourages creative expression and pushes players to think outside traditional scales and arpeggios, resulting in distinctive melodic phrases that define the bebop genre.

Related terms

Dominant Seventh Chord: A chord consisting of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh; often altered in jazz to create tension.

Tension and Release: A musical concept where dissonance is created (tension) and then resolved (release), often utilizing altered chords for added complexity.

Substitution: The practice of replacing one chord with another that has a similar function, often using altered chords to enhance harmonic interest.