================ Chord Dictionary ================ The Amadeus chord dictionary provides comprehensive information about chord types, their construction, and usage in music. Chord Categories ================ Basic Triads ------------ Major Triad ~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-3-5 * **Intervals**: Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th * **Example**: C (C-E-G) * **Sound**: Happy, bright, stable * **Usage**: Most common chord in Western music, used for tonic, subdominant, and dominant functions Minor Triad ~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-♭3-5 * **Intervals**: Root, Minor 3rd, Perfect 5th * **Example**: Am (A-C-E) * **Sound**: Sad, dark, introspective * **Usage**: Common in minor keys, creates emotional depth Diminished Triad ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-♭3-♭5 * **Intervals**: Root, Minor 3rd, Diminished 5th * **Example**: B° (B-D-F) * **Sound**: Tense, unstable, transitional * **Usage**: Leading tone chords, passing chords, creating tension Augmented Triad ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-3-♯5 * **Intervals**: Root, Major 3rd, Augmented 5th * **Example**: C+ (C-E-G♯) * **Sound**: Mysterious, unsettled, dreamlike * **Usage**: Chromatic voice leading, whole tone scales, impressionistic music Seventh Chords -------------- Major Seventh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-3-5-7 * **Example**: Cmaj7 (C-E-G-B) * **Sound**: Sophisticated, jazzy, smooth * **Usage**: Jazz standards, bossa nova, R&B, neo-soul Dominant Seventh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-3-5-♭7 * **Example**: G7 (G-B-D-F) * **Sound**: Bluesy, tense, needs resolution * **Usage**: V7 chord in major/minor keys, blues progressions Minor Seventh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-♭3-5-♭7 * **Example**: Dm7 (D-F-A-C) * **Sound**: Mellow, jazzy, sophisticated minor * **Usage**: ii7 in major keys, jazz standards, modal music Half-Diminished Seventh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-♭3-♭5-♭7 * **Example**: Bm7♭5 (B-D-F-A) * **Sound**: Dark, mysterious, jazz noir * **Usage**: ii°7 in minor keys, passing chords in jazz Diminished Seventh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-♭3-♭5-♭♭7 * **Example**: B°7 (B-D-F-A♭) * **Sound**: Very tense, symmetric, dramatic * **Usage**: Passing chords, modulation, classical music drama Extended Chords --------------- Ninth Chords ~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Major Ninth (maj9)** * **Formula**: 1-3-5-7-9 * **Example**: Cmaj9 (C-E-G-B-D) * **Usage**: Modern jazz, R&B, neo-soul **Dominant Ninth (9)** * **Formula**: 1-3-5-♭7-9 * **Example**: G9 (G-B-D-F-A) * **Usage**: Blues, funk, jazz **Minor Ninth (m9)** * **Formula**: 1-♭3-5-♭7-9 * **Example**: Dm9 (D-F-A-C-E) * **Usage**: Smooth jazz, R&B ballads Eleventh Chords ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Dominant Eleventh (11)** * **Formula**: 1-3-5-♭7-9-11 * **Example**: G11 (G-B-D-F-A-C) * **Note**: Often omit 3rd to avoid clash * **Usage**: Funk, fusion, modern jazz Thirteenth Chords ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **Dominant Thirteenth (13)** * **Formula**: 1-3-5-♭7-9-11-13 * **Example**: G13 (G-B-D-F-A-C-E) * **Usage**: Big band jazz, sophisticated pop Suspended Chords ---------------- Sus2 ~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-2-5 * **Example**: Csus2 (C-D-G) * **Sound**: Open, ambiguous, modern * **Usage**: Pop, rock, creating ambiguity Sus4 ~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-4-5 * **Example**: Csus4 (C-F-G) * **Sound**: Unresolved tension, hymn-like * **Usage**: Resolution to major, gospel, rock Altered Chords -------------- Dominant Flat Nine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-3-5-♭7-♭9 * **Example**: G7♭9 (G-B-D-F-A♭) * **Sound**: Very tense, Spanish/flamenco flavor * **Usage**: V7 to minor, jazz, flamenco Sharp Eleven ~~~~~~~~~~~~ * **Formula**: 1-3-5-♭7-♯11 * **Example**: G7♯11 (G-B-D-F-C♯) * **Sound**: Lydian dominant, bright tension * **Usage**: Jazz, fusion, modal interchange Chord Inversions ================ Understanding Inversions ------------------------ Inversions occur when a note other than the root is in the bass: * **Root Position**: Root in bass (C/C) * **First Inversion**: 3rd in bass (C/E) * **Second Inversion**: 5th in bass (C/G) * **Third Inversion**: 7th in bass (Cmaj7/B) Slash Chords ------------ Notation and usage of bass notes: * **C/E**: C major with E in bass * **Am/C**: A minor with C in bass * **G/B**: G major with B in bass (common in pop) Chord Functions =============== Tonic Function -------------- * **Primary**: I, vi * **Role**: Home, stability, rest * **Common Progressions**: I-IV-V-I Subdominant Function -------------------- * **Primary**: IV, ii * **Role**: Departure from tonic, preparation * **Common Progressions**: I-IV-I, ii-V-I Dominant Function ----------------- * **Primary**: V, vii° * **Role**: Maximum tension, demands resolution * **Common Progressions**: V-I, V7-I Common Progressions =================== Pop/Rock -------- **I-V-vi-IV** * Example: C-G-Am-F * Songs: "Let It Be", "Someone Like You" **I-vi-IV-V** * Example: C-Am-F-G * Songs: "Stand By Me", oldies progression **vi-IV-I-V** * Example: Am-F-C-G * Songs: Modern pop variation Jazz ---- **ii-V-I** * Example: Dm7-G7-Cmaj7 * The fundamental jazz progression **I-vi-ii-V** * Example: Cmaj7-Am7-Dm7-G7 * Rhythm changes A section **iii-vi-ii-V** * Example: Em7-Am7-Dm7-G7 * Extended jazz turnaround Blues ----- **12-Bar Blues** * I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-V * Example: C-C-C-C-F-F-C-C-G-F-C-G **8-Bar Blues** * I-I-IV-IV-V-IV-I-V * Shortened blues form Modal Interchange ================= Borrowed Chords --------------- Common borrowed chords from parallel minor: * **♭VII**: Major chord on flat 7 (B♭ in C major) * **iv**: Minor subdominant (Fm in C major) * **♭III**: Major chord on flat 3 (E♭ in C major) * **♭VI**: Major chord on flat 6 (A♭ in C major) Voice Leading ============= Smooth Voice Leading -------------------- Principles for chord connections: 1. **Minimal Motion**: Move voices by smallest intervals 2. **Common Tones**: Keep shared notes stationary 3. **Contrary Motion**: Voices move in opposite directions 4. **Avoid Parallels**: No parallel 5ths or octaves Chord Substitutions =================== Tritone Substitution -------------------- * Replace V7 with ♭II7 * Example: G7 → D♭7 in key of C * Creates chromatic bass movement Modal Substitution ------------------ * Replace major with parallel minor * Example: C → Cm in key of C * Creates dramatic color change Practical Applications ====================== Chord Recognition Tips ---------------------- 1. **Listen for Bass**: Identifies root or inversion 2. **Quality Detection**: Major = bright, Minor = dark 3. **Extensions**: Jazz sounds = 7ths, 9ths, etc. 4. **Context**: Consider key and progression Chord Construction ------------------ Building chords from scales: 1. **Choose Scale**: Major, minor, modal 2. **Stack Thirds**: Every other note 3. **Add Extensions**: 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th 4. **Alter as Needed**: ♭5, ♯11, etc. Practice Exercises ================== Ear Training ------------ 1. Play major vs. minor triads 2. Identify chord qualities by ear 3. Recognise common progressions 4. Transcribe simple songs Theory Exercises ---------------- 1. Build all chord types in all keys 2. Write chord progressions 3. Analyse songs for chord functions 4. Practice voice leading Interactive Features ==================== In the Amadeus app, you can: * See fingering diagrams * Transpose to any key * View in context of progressions