Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, Page 1

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , General Introduction

Advanced Scales and Chords

Table of Contents

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 4

FLASHCARDS .............................................................................................. 5

THE LEARNING GAME ..................................................................................................................................5 PLAYING THE NOTES ...................................................................................................................................5

INTERVALS .................................................................................................. 9

BASIC INTERVALS.......................................................................................................................................10 ALTERED INTERVALS .................................................................................................................................11

ADVANCED SCALES ................................................................................. 12

THE PENTATONIC SCALES ........................................................................................................................12 DIMINISHED HANDS....................................................................................................................................13 WHOLE-TONE HAND ..................................................................................................................................14 CHURCH MODES IN ALL KEYS ..................................................................................................................15 ARTIFICIAL CHURCH MODES ....................................................................................................................16

APPLICATION OF SCALES TO CHORDS ................................................. 18

CHORD THEORY........................................................................................ 20

REHEARSING THE CHORDS ......................................................................................................................20 ROCK AND JAZZ TERMINOLOGY ..............................................................................................................20 FUNCTIONAL HARMONY / DIATONIC TRIADS .........................................................................................21 SEVENTH CHORDS (4 PARTS) ..................................................................................................................22 SIXTH CHORDS (4 / 5 PARTS)....................................................................................................................23 SUS CHORDS ..............................................................................................................................................23 CHORDS WITH ADDED NOTES .................................................................................................................24 CHORDS WITH BASS NOTE .......................................................................................................................24 EXTENDED CHORDS ..................................................................................................................................25 NINTH CHORDS (5 PARTS) ........................................................................................................................26 DOUBLE-ALTERED CHORDS .....................................................................................................................27 ELEVENTH CHORDS (6 PARTS) ................................................................................................................27 THIRTEENTH CHORDS (7 PARTS) ............................................................................................................28 STACKED CHORDS .....................................................................................................................................29 POLYCHORDS .............................................................................................................................................29

CHORD DICTIONARY ................................................................................ 30

STANDARD CHORDS ..................................................................................................................................31 EXTENDED CHORDS, 7 ..............................................................................................................................32 EXTENDED CHORDS, 9 ..............................................................................................................................33 EXTENDED CHORDS, 11 ............................................................................................................................34 EXTENDED CHORDS, 6 ..............................................................................................................................35


EXTENDED CHORDS, (B5) .........................................................................................................................36 NEUTRAL CHORDS, + .................................................................................................................................37 NEUTRAL CHORDS, DIM ............................................................................................................................38 NEUTRAL CHORDS, SUS ...........................................................................................................................39 MOVABLE CHORDS, ADVANCED JAZZ .....................................................................................................40 THE BARRE CHORD ...................................................................................................................................41

INDEX SCALES AND CHORDS ................................................................. 42


All Aspects of ROCK & JAZZ

Volume 2 – The Electric Bass

ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS 4 of 7 Documents

ISBN 87-88619-70-2 2

nd Edition, 1

st Issue

Summer 2001 Produced in Denmark

Digital Books™ is a trademark of NORDISC Music & Text, Ryparken 6, 1. th., Copenhagen 2100 Kbh. Ø

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Text, notes and musical examples: © Copyright H.W. Gade 2001

Illustrations, layout and concept, original text © Copyright H.W. Gade 1984-85/2001

All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction in full/in extension not allowed. No public hire of the material allowed without the written permission of the publishing house.

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General Introduction

This chapter of the Electric Bass deals with some heavy theoretical stuff. It is divided

into Scales (Flashcards, Intervals, Advanced Scales) and Chords (Chord Theory,

Chord Dictionary). Flashcards and Intervals are obligatory for all bass players, no

matter what style they play - Jazz, Rock, Salsa, Reggae or High Life. The Advanced

Scales chapter is primarily targeted at jazz musicians. The Chord Theory is

obligatory for all bass players, containing lots of examples of guitar chords, as you

will have to be able to play rather professionally on a guitar in order to understand

the bass and its role in the orchestra – regard the Chord Dictionary chapter as a mini

course in advanced rhythm guitar playing.

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Flashcards

Flashcards

Flashcards are widespread memory games used by students in disciplines as

mathematics, language and music alike. You have a set of card covering a certain

subject, in our case the names of the notes of the fretboard for each string. The idea

is to learn the positions and names by heart in order to play fluently across the whole

neck.

THE LEARNING GAME

The Fretboard Quiz Game consists of twelve cards, each representing a step within an

octave on one string, for example E root to E first octave on the E-string. The cards are

included in this book. Print out the front back (question) and the results page (answer) and glue

them together, laminate them and cut the 12 cards out with a pair of scissors.

In the learning period, always keep the twelve cards in your pocket or bag. When you have a

spare moment, e.g. riding in a bus or standing in a queue, produce a card and list the fret name

of the selected flashcard for each string on the fretboard, e.g. from the G-string down to the B-

string. When you get more experienced, you may simply ask yourself a random fret number,

listing all the names on all strings.

Finally, when you have a solid grip on the first octave, you must add the second octave, which

happens to have the same names as the first octave, only placed 12 frets higher.

PLAYING THE NOTES

It is equally important to play the notes on the bass as learning it by heart. The position on the

fretboard should be connected to the name in your brain as second nature.

Rehearse the names physically on the bass 30min a day, while playing the game at least 10

minutes a day in your pauses or spare time.


Fig. 1 Flashcard Templates

Front of Flashcard (questions)

All Aspects of

ROCK & JAZZ

Fretboard Quiz

Fret #1

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All Aspects of

ROCK & JAZZ

Fretboard Quiz

Fret #2

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All Aspects of

ROCK & JAZZ

Fretboard Quiz

Fret #3

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All Aspects of

ROCK & JAZZ

Fretboard Quiz

Fret #4

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All Aspects of

ROCK & JAZZ

Fretboard Quiz

Fret #5

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ROCK & JAZZ

Fretboard Quiz

Fret #6

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Fretboard Quiz

Fret #7

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Fretboard Quiz

Fret #8

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Fretboard Quiz

Fret #9

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Fretboard Quiz

Fret #10

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Fretboard Quiz

Fret #11

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All Aspects of

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Fretboard Quiz

Fret #12

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(Fig. 2 Flashcard Templates, continued)

Back of Flashcard (answers)

Notes on Fret 1

String Up Down

G G# Ab

D D# Eb

A A# Bb

E F F

B C C

Notes on Fret 2

String Up Down

G A A

D E E

A B B

E F# Gb

B C# Db

Notes on Fret 3

String Up Down

G A# Bb

D F F

A C C

E G G

B D D

Notes on Fret 4

String Up Down

G B B

D F# Gb

A C# Db

E G# Ab

B D# Eb

Notes on Fret 5

String Up Down

G C C

D G G

A D D

E A A

B E E

Notes on Fret 6

String Up Down

G C# Db

D G# Ab

A D# Eb

E A# Bb

B F F

Notes on Fret 7

String Up Down

G D D

D A A

A E E

E B B

B F# Gb

Notes on Fret 8

String Up Down

G D# Eb

D A# Bb

A F F

E C C

B G G

Notes on Fret 9

String Up Down

G E E

D B B

A F# Gb

E C# Db

B G# Ab

Notes on Fret 10

String Up Down

G F F

D C C

A G G

E D D

B A A

Notes on Fret 11

String Up Down

G F# Gb

D C# Db

A G# Ab

E D# Eb

B A# Bb

Notes on Fret 12

String Up Down

G G G

D D D

A A A

E E E

B B B


Ask the Professor!™

Q: What is Tablature???

A: The tablature is a 500 years old alternative notation system for stringed

instruments like basses and guitars. Opposite to the prevailing music notation,

tablature uses the strings with numbers (in the renaissance: letters) to show the

individual notes, their pitch and their exact placing on the guitar. This is can be

a great advantage for the player, but it can limit your fantasy, as traditional

notation does not tell you which string and fret to play, for example an E note,

leaving it up to own your talent and style. For transcription of famous solos etc

though, the tablature is a must. After 20 year in obscurity, the tablature is now

(year 2001) very common among young guitarists – but do not forget to learn

the traditional notes too!

1 Strings, sometimes with letters

2 TAB “clef”, sometimes omitted

3 Meter

4 Fret numbers (chord)

5 Rests, sometimes omitted

6 Note stem, sometimes omitted The example in traditional notation

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Intervals

Intervals

The building bricks of all scales and chords are named Intervals. You can read more

about Interval theory in the All Aspects of ROCK & JAZZ/1 Music Theory, chapter

Harmony. In this book, you will find a number of ways to employ the intervals on the

bass. As usual, it is important to rehearse the theoretical stuff in real life, i.e. with

your fingers, so try to play the intervals immediately after reading about them.

The distance between 2 frets (marks on the neck on a fretless bass) is half a note step. Each octave is divided into 12 steps.


BASIC INTERVALS

Fig. 3 Basic Intervals

# Name Description Distance in Frets

1 Prime 0 steps 0 frets

b2 Minor Second Half step 1 fret

2 Major Second 1 whole step 2 frets

b3 Minor Third 1 whole Step + Half Step 3 frets

3 Major Third 2 whole Steps 4 frets

4 Perfect Fourth 2 whole Steps + 1 Half Step 5 frets

#4 Augmented Fourth*) 3 whole Steps 6 frets

b5 Diminished Fifth (Tritonus)

*)

3 whole Steps 6 frets

5 Perfect Fifth 3 whole Steps + 1 Half Step 7 frets

b6 Minor Sixth 4 whole Steps 8 frets

6 Major Sixth 4 whole Steps + 1 Half Step 9 frets

b7 Minor Seventh 5 whole Steps 10 frets

7 Major Seventh 5 whole Steps + 1 Half Step 11 frets

8 Octave 6 whole Steps 12 frets

*)

Enharmonic Notes, see All Aspects of ROCK & JAZZ/1 Music Theory


ALTERED INTERVALS

In jazz, the intervals are often “altered”, i.e. diminished or augmented. Learn the names by heart

and do not be confused by the somewhat misleading naming convention, which is a parallel to

the illogical functional harmonic system in Jazz (I, II, III etc.).

Fig. 4 Altered Intervals

Name Original Interval Frets New Interval Frets

Diminished

Minor Second (2) 2 Diminished Second 1

Minor Third (b3) 3 Diminished Minor Third 2

Fourth (4) 5 Diminished Fourth 4

Fifth (5) 7 Diminished Fifth 5

Minor Sixth (b6) 9 Diminished Minor Sixth 8

Minor Seventh (b7) 10 Diminished Minor Seventh 9

Major Second (2) 2 Diminished Second 1

Major Third (3) 3 Diminished Major Third 3

Fourth (4) 5 Diminished Fourth 4

Fifth (5) 7 Diminished Fifth 5

Major Sixth (b6) 9 Diminished Major Sixth 9

Major Seventh (b7) 10 Diminished Major Seventh 11

Augmented

Minor Second (2) 2 Augmented Second 3

Minor Third (b3) 3 Augmented Minor Third 4

Fourth (4) 5 Augmented Fourth 5

Fifth (5) 7 Augmented Fifth 6

Minor Sixth (b6) 9 Augmented Minor Sixth 10

Minor Seventh (b7) 10 Augmented Minor Seventh 11

Major Second (2) 2 Augmented Second 3

Major Third (3) 3 Augmented Major Third 4

Fourth (4) 5 Augmented Fourth 6

Fifth (5) 7 Augmented Fifth 8

Major Sixth (b6) 9 Augmented Major Sixth 10

Major Seventh (b7) 10 Augmented Major Seventh 12

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Advanced Scales

Advanced Scales

In the All Aspects of ROCK & JAZZ/1 Music Theory, you can find the theoretical

basis of scales. In this section, we will work with the advanced scales used in Jazz

music.

THE PENTATONIC SCALES

A pentatonic scale is a neutral scale, and should not be classified as a major or minor scale due

to lack of the active scale degrees (the fourth and Seventh scale steps in a major scale).

Nonetheless, many teachers and music books use an artificial and incorrect major/minor system

for the neutral pentatonic scales, so, not to confuse you, the same terminology is used in this

chapter as well.

Fig. 5 C Major Pentatonic Scale

The Major Pentatonic Scale is similar to the Major Blues without a Fourth and Seventh.

Fig. 6 E Minor Pentatonic Scale

The Minor Pentatonic Scale is identical to the Original Pentatonic Scale:


DIMINISHED HANDS

All Diminished scales are based on stacked minor thirds. In jazz, you distinguish between

Diminished Half Step and Whole Step Scales.

Fig. 7 Diminished Half Step Scale

Fig. 8 Diminished Whole Step Scale

Fig. 9 Diminished Hand

Diminished scales are symmetrical, parallel scales. In reality, only three keys exist, C, C# and D

each divided into 4 stacked minor thirds.


WHOLE-TONE HAND

The whole-tone scale (“Debussy Scale”) is a neutral, symmetric scale. Only two keys exist, C

and C#.

Fig. 10 Whole-tone Scale

Fig. 11 Whole-tone Hand

Whole-tone Scale


CHURCH MODES IN ALL KEYS

The church modes consist of a Base Key (major) and the 7 modes placed on the scale steps.

The following table shows how to find the modes in all the 12 major keys.

Fig. 12 Church Modes in All Keys

Key Ionian Dorian Phrycian Lydian Mixolydian Aolean Locrian

Base MAJOR MODAL MINOR MODAL

C C Dm Em F G Am Bdim

Db Db Ebm Fm Gb Ab Bbm Cdim

D D Em F#m G A Bm C#dim

Eb Eb Fm Gm Ab Bb Cm Ddim

E E F#m G#m A B C#m D#dim

F F Gm Am Bb C Dm Edim

F# F# G#m A#m B C# D#m E#dim

G G Am Bm C D Em F#dim

Ab Ab Bbm Cm Db Eb Fm Gdim

A A Bm C#m D E F#m G#dim

Bb Bb Cm Dm Eb F Gm Adim

B B C#m D#m E F# G#m A#dim

NOTE The modes are named with a “pseudo” key, in “Major”, “Minor” or “Diminished”. The names are only guidelines, as for example a D minor Dorian, is not a normal minor but a church mode, which happens to look a bit like a minor scale.


ARTIFICIAL CHURCH MODES

JAZZ Although not really authentic Church Modes, the inventive jazz musicians have

experimented with artificial “modes” based on for example a Melodic Minor Scale. Here is

what the table for these artificial Church Modes looks like. The most common artificial church

modes in jazz are marked with lime green.

Fig. 13 Artificial Church Modes based on Melodic Minor in All Keys

Key Aolean Locrian

#2

Ionean Dorian Locrian,

Super

Lydian

Aug.

Locrian,

Super

Base Minor MODAL Major MODAL

Cm Cm Ddim Eb Fm Gdim A Bdim

C#m C#m D#dim E F#m G#dim A# Cdim

Dm Dm Edim F Gm Adim B C#dim

Ebm Ebm Fdim Gb Abm Bbdim B# Ddim

Em Em F#dim G Am Bdim C# D#dim

Fm Fm Gdim Ab Bbm Cdim D Edim

F#m F#m G#dim A Bm C#dim D# E#dim

Gm Gm Adim Bb Cm Ddim E F#dim

G#m G#m A#dim B C#m D#dim E# Gdim

Am Am Bdim C Dm Edim F# G#dim

Bbm Bbm Cdim Db Ebm Fdim G Adim

Bm Bm C#dim D Em F#dim G# A#dim


Fig. 14 Locrian #2 Mode

Locrian #2 Mode is used for playing over minor chords with flattened fifths.

Fig. 15 Diminished Whole-tone Mode / Altered Scale

Super Locrian Mode (Altered Scale) This mode is also called the altered scale, and this

name is used in the section Application of Scales to Chords.

Fig. 16 Lydian Augmented Mode

Lydian Augmented Mode is used over major chords with augmented fifth.

Fig. 17 Lydian Dominant Mode

A variation of the above artificial mode is the Lydian Dominant Mode used over dominant

chords.

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Application of Scales to Chords

Application of Scales to Chords

This section is the advanced part of the Leading notes section in Chapter 3, Playing

in the Band. Here you find a table with suggestions of some possible choices of scale

types for various chord types. Please note that most of the chord types have

alternative scale types for Jazz and Rock. This is very important, as the choice of

scale type is the decision whether to play in rock or jazz style.

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Application of Scales to Chords

Fig. 18 Scale Types for Various Chord Types (Suggestions only)

Chord Type Suggested Scale Type

Major triad, maj7, maj6, maj6+9, maj9 (when the chord is the tonic, I maj, in a major key)

ROCK Major JAZZ Major scale, major pentatonic

Major triad, maj7, any major chord with #11 added (when the chord is subdominant, IV maj in a major key)

ROCK Lydian JAZZ Lydian mode, major pentatonic a major second above the root

Maj9, maj6+9 (except I maj in a major key)

ROCK Major JAZZ Major pentatonic a perfect fifth above the root

Maj7#5 (+(maj7)) ROCK Lydian JAZZ Lydian augmented mode

Minor triad, m7, m9, m6, (when the chord is the tonic, I min, in a minor key)

ROCK Natural Minor JAZZ Minor scale, minor pentatonic (= major pentatonic a minor third above the root), Aeolian mode

Minor triad, m7, m9, m11, m7sus4

(when the chord is II min (SDm) in a

major key, or IV min (SDm) in a minor key)

ROCK Dorian mode JAZZ Dorian mode, major pentatonic a major second below the root

Minor triad, m7, m9, (when the chord

is III min (Dm) in a major key, or V

min (Dm) in a minor key)

ROCK Phrygian mode JAZZ Minor pentatonic (= major pentatonic a minor third above the root), Phrygian mode

Any minor chord with b5 ROCK Dim scale scale JAZZ Locrian #2 mode, (”usual ” locrian mode can be used if the b9 is omitted)

m(maj7) ROCK / JAZZ Harmonic minor scale

Dominant seventh, dominant ninth, dominant thirteenth

ROCK Mixolydian mode, blues scale JAZZ Mixolydian mode, major pentatonic, major pentatonic a minor second below the root, blues scale, melodic minor scale, Lydian dominant mode

Altered dominant chord with b9 or #9

((-9)(-10)) ROCK Blues scale JAZZ Diminished half-step scale, altered scale

Altered dominant chord with b5 or #5

(+)

ROCK Lydian mode (b5) or whole note scale (+) JAZZ Whole-tone scale, altered scale (chords with b5/#11 can be played over with the Lydian dominant mode)

Double-altered dominant chord with

b9/#9 ((-9-10)) and b5/#5 (+(#11)) ROCK Blues scale or Lydian augmented mode JAZZ Altered scale, major pentatonic a diminished fifth above the root

Dominant 11, dominant 9sus4 (sus9) ROCK Mixolydian mode or blues scale JAZZ Major pentatonic a perfect fourth above the root

Diminished 7 (dim7) ROCK / JAZZ Diminished whole-step scale

You can of course choose to play in only one scale all through tune, but this tends to sound a little

boring if you do it all the time. Country and Folk Music tends to use the standard scale all the time,

but both Rock and Jazz have always used lots of strange scales to the chords. It is up to you and

your personal style.

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Chord Theory

Chord Theory

The basic Chord form is the Triad. It consists of three notes played at the same time.

Extended chords are triads with one or more added “colour” notes. See All Aspects

of ROCK & JAZZ /1 Music Theory, Harmony for all the details of Chord Types,

Functional Harmony, Modal and Sound Aspects in chords.

Fig. 19 The Six Basic Triad Types

REHEARSING THE CHORDS

When you rehearse the chords on the bass and the guitar, you must learn the typical sound of

the chord (Sound Aspect) as well as its “mechanics”, i.e. the typical colour notes and interval

structure of each chord. This knowledge is essential for being able to recognize the chords by

ear and to construct a powerful, yet clear bass to all kinds of chord, even the heavily extended

ones.

On guitar, the chords can be played as either open or movable/barre chords, similar to the

open hands and the movable hands in Chapter 2, Bass Technique.

The bassist is supposed to handle the guitar at a very high technical level, so it is very important

to rehearse all the chords intensely for a period of maybe one year before you can rely on your

own ability to recognize the chord structures and play the best possible bass to the chords.

ROCK AND JAZZ TERMINOLOGY

The use of Chord and Functional Harmony terminology differs greatly between rock and jazz.

To view the many different systems, please see All Aspects of ROCK & JAZZ /1 Music

Theory, Harmony. In books written by jazz players, Roman numerals are used for Chord

functions (American tradition). The rock version of the function symbols is added after the

numeral. (D(m) = Dominant SD(m) = Subdominant DD = Double Dominant m = Parallel

Minor). The green colour is also used for stating different chord symbols in rock.


FUNCTIONAL HARMONY / DIATONIC TRIADS

In the All Aspects of ROCK & JAZZ 1 / Music Theory, you will find a comprehensive chapter

of Harmony, including the complicated theory on Functional Harmony, i.e. the functional

relationship between chords in a scale. In the next two figures, you can find examples of a

major and a minor scale.

Fig. 20 Diatonic Triads in D Major

American Rock

System System

I major T (Tonic)

II minor SDm (Subdominant parallel minor)

III minor Dm (Dominant parallel minor)

IV major SD (subdominant)

V major D (dominant)

VI minor Tm (Tonic parallel minor) VII diminished -

Fig. 21 Diatonic Triads in D Minor

American Rock

System System

I minor Tm (Tonic parallel minor) II diminished -

III major T (Tonic)

IV minor SDm (Subdominant parallel minor)

V minor Dm (Dominant parallel minor)

VI major Sd (Subdominant)

VII major D (Dominant)


SEVENTH CHORDS (4 PARTS)

Fig. 22 Seventh Chords in D Major

Seventh Chord Types Major 7, minor 7, dominant 7 and minor 7 (b5) (m(b5)7).

Function Seventh Chord Names Imaj7 (T maj7), IImi7 (SDm 7), IIImi7 (Dm 7), IVmaj7

(SD maj7), V7 (D 7), VImi7 (Tm 7), VIImi7(b5).

Jazz The ten seventh chord main types

Major 7 (maj7) Root, major third, perfect fifth, major seventh.

Minor 7 (m7) Root, minor third, perfect fifth, minor seventh.

Dominant 7 (7) Root, major third, perfect fifth, minor seventh.

Diminished 7 (dim) Root, minor third, diminished fifth, diminished seventh.

Minor/major 7 (m(maj7)) Root, minor third, perfect fifth, major seventh.

Major 7 (#5) (+(maj7)) Root, major third, augmented fifth, major seventh.

Major 7 (b5) ((b5)maj7) Root, major third, diminished fifth, major seventh.

Dominant 7 (#5) (+7) Root, major third, augmented fifth, minor seventh.

Dominant 7 (b5) ((b5)7) Root, major third, diminished fifth, minor seventh.

Minor 7 (b5) (dim) (or half diminished chord) root, minor third, diminished fifth,

minor seventh.

Fig. 23 The Ten Seventh Chords

NOTE the second line of chords follows the rock tradition


SIXTH CHORDS (4 / 5 PARTS)

The sixth chord is the most common coloured chord, beside the seventh chords. It was also the

first extended chord in the 1800-ies, in the beginning regarded as a sharply dissonant chord.

The sixth note is the same in both the major and minor versions of the chord despite the fact the

minor scale sixth should be half a note lower than the major sixth. This chord, also called a

Naples Chord, has a very long tradition in classical music. It was extremely popular in early

jazz and even Beatles has used it a lot on their early records.

Fig. 24 Sixth Chords

SUS CHORDS

Suspended chords (sus) are neutral, working well in either major or minor. Traditionally, it is

used for cadences, resolving into a major chord (the suspended note, usually a fourth down to a

major third). In modern rock music, the suspended chords are often used as a background

chords, sometimes mixed with eleventh chords. This way, the gender of the scales are blurred,

making way for both blues, modal and major scales. Typical examples of suspended chords can

be found in the music of Nirvana.

Normally the suspended chords are simply called sus, but in jazz there are two types of

suspension, sus4 and sus2. The latter should rather be called diminished (dim3 for example)

as we are talking about a major third lowered to a second, musical expressions can be illogic).

The two types can actually be seen as two different chords depending on the context either

having the root in the bottom or at the top (fifth note).

Fig. 25 Sus Chords


CHORDS WITH ADDED NOTES

If you want to add a specific colour to a chord, for example a ninth, without the normal seventh,

you write (add 9). You could of course also use (add #11) or (add 13), but for historical reasons,

the (add 9) chord is by far the most common “added chord”. You may choose to add dissonant

colours, too, for example C(add G#) or E(add F), which I frequently do myself.

See also the comments under Minor 9 chords.

Fig. 26 (add 9) Chord

CHORDS WITH BASS NOTE

If the songwriter wants a specific bass note, he/she can place a special bass box with the desired

note under the chord symbol.

Fig. 27 Chord with Bass Note

D 7C


EXTENDED CHORDS

Extended chords are very common in all modern music, rock, jazz, pop, soul etc. Before 1970,

extended chords were mostly played by advanced jazz musicians, but the fusion of rock and

jazz in 1970’ies meant a liberation for the somehow stagnated use of chord in rock and soul,

and nowadays you will find event the most complex extended chords in many songs on the

radio or on MTV.

A couple of explanations are needed to understand the construction of extended chords. An

extended chord is a triad with one or more extra colour notes. As the triad chord uses the 1st, 3

rd

and 5th

note in the scale, the “extended” notes uses higher number, for example 9th

instead of

the 2nd

interval, in order to provide a logical, transparent construction of the extensions. In real

life, though, you can place the 9th

and all other colour notes where you want, using 2nd

/ 9th

depending on the circumstances.

The extended high scale steps are named:

9th Major (9), minor (b9) ((-9))or augmented (#9) ((-10)).

11th Perfect (11) or augmented (#11).

13th Major (13) or minor (b13).


NINTH CHORDS (5 PARTS)

The major ninth chords are the first step into the Jazz sound, but it is also widely used in pop.

Fig. 28 Major Ninth Chords with Major Seven


Fig. 29 Minor Ninth Chords

NOTE In the rock tradition, the m9 chord does not have a minor seventh, it is traditionally played

as a minor chord with a ninth added. The m9 chord understood as the 7 and 9 is written m7+9

in rock.

Fig. 30 Ninth Chords with Minor Seven



DOUBLE-ALTERED CHORDS

Jazz Double-altered chords are dominant chords with altered fifth and ninth. These strongly

coloured dominant chords are typical for modern jazz.

Fig. 31 Double Altered Chord (m9(5) (m(b5)7+9))


ELEVENTH CHORDS (6 PARTS)

Eleventh Chords are typical for jazz and normally not used in standard rock (except for the

famous A11 chord that starts “A Hard day’s Night” with the Beatles).

Fig. 32 Eleventh Chords


The eleventh chords and higher are so complex that they tend to be “muddy” and dissonant. To

lighten up the sound, the musicians traditionally leave out one or two notes, focussing on the

chord’s peculiar sound, in this case the eleventh note (or Fourth note) colliding sharply with the

major third with the mild minor seventh to cool of the dissonance.


THIRTEENTH CHORDS (7 PARTS)

The thirteenth chords are usually played as a reduced chord. There is a long tradition for playing

a 6+7 chord instead of the thirteenth chord, thus making the chord easy to play on the guitar.

The clash between the sixth and the minor seventh sounds like the upper thirteenth note

clashing against the minor seventh note of the full sixteenth.

Fig. 33 Thirteenth Chords



STACKED CHORDS

JAZZ Chords build on triads are not the only chords in the world. In the experimental music of

the last century (especially the new classical music and the advanced jazz), the composers used

some new types of chords, based on fourth and fifth, the so-called Stacked Chords. Even

more advanced chords as the polychords are very common in modern jazz and classical

music.

Stacked Chords are used intensely in the jazz wind section, especially in combinations of

saxophones and trumpets / cornets.

TIP The bass to a stacked chord can be any of the notes in the chord, as the stacked chord itself

is neutral.

POLYCHORDS

JAZZ Polychords are one, two or more triads stacked upon each other. For obvious reasons, it is

much easier for a piano player than for a guitar player to use these chords, but if you stick to the

simple variants, it is possible, although you have to reduce the number of notes in the chords.

Bm

C or

Bm/C

Some typical jazz polychords:

C / D Em / Am Cm7 / Bb C7 / D C7 / F# C7 / A

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Chord Dictionary

Chord Dictionary

The classical way of representing the chords in a simple graphic form is the chord

box. This tool, used since the early 1920’ies, is closely related to the Tablature, but

opposite to the dynamic note-like form of the tablature, the chord box is static. The

following tables show examples of how to produce a chord in different positions on

the fretboard. There are two main types of chord boxes, the open chords and the

movable chords. The latter is the most common in rock and jazz, while the open

chords (except for the golden chords™) mostly belong to folk music and classical

guitar music. The chords are grouped into Standard, Extended, Neutral and

Advanced chords.

NOTE Chords marked with golden background are classic open chords.

The golden chords™ should be learned by heart before you learn any other chord forms!!!

Ask the Professor!™

Q: What is a Chord Box???

A: The Chord Box is a schematic drawing of the strings and frets, where the

placing of the fingers is marked with black circles.

Fret Number In case of movable chords, the basic fret number is shown to the

left of the chord box.

1 Finger markers

2 Fret 0 = open chord

3 Open string

4 Muted string

5 Barre

6 Mini barre


STANDARD CHORDS

Scale Major Minor 6 7 9

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

2

4

1

1

4

6

2

3

6

4

1

2

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

6

4

2

4

1

3

1

6

4

2

4

1

3

6

1

2

3

4

5

6

2

4

1

3

5


EXTENDED CHORDS, 7

Scale maj7 m7 m(maj7) m7(b5) m7+9

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

2

4

6

3

6

4

1

2

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

6

4

2

4

1

3

1

6

4

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

4

5

6

2

4

1

3

5

1

2

3

4

3

2

5


EXTENDED CHORDS, 9

Scale maj9 m9 (add 9) 7(b9) / -9 7(#9) / -10

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

2

4

6

8

11

9

6

7

2

4

1

3

6

7

9

2

4

1

3

6

5

3

2

4

1

3

6

0

2

3

4

5

6

2

4

1

3

5

1

2

3

4

3

5

1

5

10

5

11

10

5

2

0

4

0

5


EXTENDED CHORDS, 11

Scale 11 7(#11) m11

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

2

4

6

2

5

3

6

0

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

6

4

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

4

3

5

7

0

1

4

6

5

5

7

5


EXTENDED CHORDS, 6

Scale 6+7 6+9 6+maj7

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

NOTE The 6+7 chord is normally used as substitute for the 7-notes 13 chord, which cannot be played on a 6-string guitar. See the last Chord Box table for some other “fake” 13 chords.

2

4

6

2

5

3

6

0

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

6

4

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

4

3

5

1

4

5

5


EXTENDED CHORDS, (b5)

Scale (b5) 7(b5) maj7(b5)

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

2

4

6

3

6

4

1

2

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

4

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

4

3

1

7

5

7

5

6

5

7


NEUTRAL CHORDS, +

Scale + / #5 7(#5) / +7 +(maj7)

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

Dear student: Please note that some of these chords can very difficult to play in the start! The problem is not your fingers, but the chord.

9

4

6

8

6

9

1

2

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

1

6

8

5

7

1

2

3

4

8

4


NEUTRAL CHORDS, DIM

Scale dim dim7

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

2

4

5

2

5

3

1

2

2

4

1

3

6

7

3

3

2

4

1

5

4

5


NEUTRAL CHORDS, SUS

Scale sus4 sus2 sus7

C

C#/Db

D

D#/Eb

E

F

F#/Gb

G

G#/Ab

A

A#/Bb

B

6

3

6

4

3

6

4 4

3

2

4

1

2

2

4

1

3

1

2

2

4

1

3

1

2

3

1


MOVABLE CHORDS, ADVANCED JAZZ

7 Variations

7(#5/b9)

7(#5/#9)

7(b5/b9)

7(b5/#9)

maj7 Variation

maj7(#11)

13 Chords

13

13

13(#11)

m13

This was only the beginning!

The chord boxes in this chapter are only a few examples of the thousands of possible chord variations. But the examples actually provide you with a whole range of classical open chords and several movable forms, which can be used and varied endlessly. On the WEB and in your music store, you can find many advanced books, with for example different tunings and modal chords. So you see – this was only an appetizer!


THE BARRE CHORD

The principles of movable chords Folk music guitarists play with open string chords most

of the time. When the folk guitarist has to play in a strange anti-guitar key like Eb or Bb, the

poor guy needs to change the fret base to another starting point. An ancient device called the

capo does the trick mechanically. But what about the poor rock and jazz players? We use a

finger instead! By covering all six strings with the 1st finger on one of the frets, you have three

fingers left to reconstruct many of the open chords only in another key. The classic barre

fingering covers all the strings, but small 2, 3 or 4 string barre fingerings are also used to

compensate for the lack of 6-7 fingers! With the barre fingering, you are able to play in all keys

on an instrument born in the E, A, G and D keys.

Base Chords All barre chords are intimately connected to the open chords they simulate. The

barre chords can be classified according to “base” chords like this:

- Base E and Base A are the standard barre bases. They include both major, minor and

various extended chord forms.

- Other barre bases could be Base D, Base C or Base G, but the C and G bases are not

normal in rock. Base D is maybe new to even advanced rock players, although it is used in

jazz playing. So why not try the D major, minor and 7 chord, and listen to the new

interesting sounds of your guitar!

Having learned the basics of finger technique, scales and chords, you are now ready

for some real life bass exercises. Don’t forget to rehearse minimum 1 hour a day on

the bass and to rehearse your guitar playing. Both instruments are important for your

musical development.

And now for the fun stuff!

Home

bass_introduction.htm

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, , Index Scales and Chords

Index Scales and Chords

1

-10, 19, 25 13(#11), 40 1st, 41

6

6+7, 35 6+9, 35 6+maj7, 35

7

7(#11), 34 7(#5), 37 7(#5/#9), 40 7(#5/b9), 40 7(#9), 33 7(b5), 36 7(b5/#9), 40 7(b5/b9), 40 7(b9), 33 7th, 12

9

-9, 19

A

A#, 7, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

Ab, 7, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39

Aeolian, 19 Altered, 11, 17, 19, 27 Augmented, 10, 17

B

Barre, 30, 41 Blues, 12, 19

C

Chord, 19, 20, 24, 27, 30, 35, 41

D

Diatonic, 21 Dim, 19 Diminished, 10, 13, 17, 19, 22 Dm, 19, 21, 22 Dominant, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22 Double, 19, 20, 27 Double-altered, 19

E

Eleventh, 27 Extended, 25, 30, 32, 33, 34,

35, 36

F

Finger, 30 Flashcard, 6, 7 Fretboard, 5, 6

H

Hand, 14

L

Locrian, 17, 19 Lydian, 17, 19

M

Maj7, 19 Maj7#5, 19 Major, 10, 12, 19, 21, 22, 31 Minor, 10, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22,

26, 31 Mixolydian, 19

N

Natural, 19 Ninth, 26

O

Octave, 10

P

Pentatonic, 12 Perfect fifth, 10 Perfect fourth, 10 Phrygian, 19 Polychords, 29

R

Root, 22

S

Sd, 21 Seventh, 22 Sixth, 23 Stacked, 29 Subdominant, 20, 21 Sus, 23

T

TAB, 8 Tablature, 8, 30 Thirteenth, 28 Tonic, 21

V

Variation, 40 Variations, 40

Chapter 4, ADVANCED SCALES AND CHORDS, Page 1

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