Altered chords

Definition

Altered chords are chords that contain one or more notes that have been changed from their natural state, typically by raising or lowering specific scale degrees. These chords add tension and complexity to music, often used in jazz and modern compositions to create unique harmonic textures. Altered chords can include alterations such as flat ninths, sharp ninths, flat fifths, and sharp fifths, enhancing the color and expressiveness of chord progressions.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Altered chords often appear as dominant chords that resolve to tonic chords, creating a sense of movement and anticipation in music.
2. In jazz, altered chords are frequently used in turnarounds and ii-V-I progressions to add harmonic interest.
3. Common alterations include raising the ninth (sharp ninth), lowering the ninth (flat ninth), raising the fifth (sharp fifth), and lowering the fifth (flat fifth).
4. Altered chords can change the expected sound of a progression, offering surprising harmonic shifts that captivate listeners.
5. Composers use altered chords to enhance emotional expression in their music, allowing for greater complexity and depth.

Review Questions

• How do altered chords function within chord progressions to create tension?
  • Altered chords function primarily as dominant chords leading into tonic resolutions. By incorporating notes that deviate from the natural scale, such as sharp or flat ninths, they create dissonance and tension. This tension is resolved when the altered chord moves to a more stable chord, often the tonic, thereby enhancing the overall harmonic movement of the progression.
• What role do altered chords play in jazz music, particularly in common progressions?
  • In jazz music, altered chords play a critical role in adding complexity and interest to standard chord progressions. They are often used in ii-V-I progressions where the dominant chord is altered to introduce tensions that resolve when moving to the tonic. This practice allows musicians to explore richer harmonic landscapes while improvising and enhances the emotional impact of their performances.
• Evaluate how the use of altered chords affects the emotional expression of a musical piece.
  • The use of altered chords significantly enhances emotional expression by introducing unexpected dissonances that evoke feelings of tension or urgency. This tension requires resolution, creating an emotional journey for the listener. When composers skillfully employ altered chords, they can manipulate mood and atmosphere within their music, allowing for moments of intensity followed by calm resolution, which deepens the listener's engagement with the piece.

Related terms

Diminished chord: A diminished chord is a three-note chord consisting of a root note, a minor third, and a diminished fifth, often creating a tense sound.

Extended chords: Extended chords are chords that include notes beyond the seventh, such as ninths, elevenths, and thirteenths, providing additional color and richness.

Tension and resolution: Tension and resolution is a fundamental concept in music where dissonant chords create a feeling of tension that is resolved by moving to consonant chords.