Understanding Chord Symbols and Alterations + Cheat Sheets!
C#7b5b9#11b13??!
Have you ever found yourself struggling to read those perplexing chord symbols and alterations in your sheet music or chord charts? We want to help you! Whether you're a solo musician or a part of your worship team, understanding these elements is crucial to gaining more confidence and elevating your sound.
So, let's dive in to chord symbols and alterations together!
But first… Cheat Sheets!
We just launched our brand new chord symbols and alterations cheat sheets in all keys! So if you want to skip this blog post and jump straight to the cheat sheets, click the button to head there now! If not, keep reading below.
Understanding the Different Types of Chords
At the heart of sheet music and lead sheets, chord symbols act as a musical shorthand, providing a compact way to convey harmonic information. They consist of letter names (e.g. C, G7, Dm) representing the root notes of chords, combined with additional symbols and numbers that modify their qualities and voicings. Chord symbols serve as a roadmap, guiding you through the harmonies and chord progressions of a song. They are incredibly important to know if you are playing on worship teams, as they help create rich, colorful arrangements and ensure synchronicity throughout your ensemble. There are 8 different types of chords, each with their own unique structure, function, and notation. Click below to learn more:
3-part chords
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Common chord symbols:
maj, M, △
A major chord is a triad consisting of a root note, a major third interval, and a perfect fifth interval. It has a bright and uplifting quality, commonly associated with a sense of stability and resolution in music.
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Common chord symbols:
min, m, -
A minor chord is a triad comprising a root note, a minor third interval, and a perfect fifth interval. When played on their own, they have a melancholic or introspective character, often evoking feelings of sadness or contemplation.
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Common chord symbols:
°, dim
A diminished chord is a triad formed by stacking two minor thirds, resulting in a unique and dissonant sound. It conveys a sense of tension and instability, often used to create suspense, transition to a more resolved chord, or to transition into a new key.
4-part chords
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Common chord symbols:
maj7, M7, △7
A major 7th chord is a four-note chord consisting of a major triad with an added major 7th interval. It has a rich and sophisticated sound, often associated with a sense of nostalgia or dreaminess.
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Common chord symbols:
min7, m7, -7
A minor 7th chord is a four-note chord comprising the root note, a minor third, a perfect 5th, and a minor 7th interval. It has a mellow and introspective quality, with a bit more color than a normal minor chord.
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Common chord symbols:
7
A dominant 7th chord is a four-note chord consisting of a major triad (root, major third, and perfect fifth) along with a minor 7th interval. It is denoted by the chord symbol with a "7" added, such as G7. This chord is characterized by its strong and stable sound, often used as a point of tension and resolution. This is due to the dissonant tritone interval between the major third and minor 7th, where the minor seventh resolves downward and the major third resolves upward. In functional harmony, the dominant 7th chord typically resolves to the tonic chord, creating a sense of resolution and closure.
For example, take a G7 chord that seeks resolution to C. the F in the G7 chord resolves down to the E in the C chord, and the B in the G7 chord resolves upward to the C in the C chord.
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Common chord symbols:
ø7, min7b5, halfdim7
A half diminished 7th chord (also known as a minor 7th flat 5 chord) is a four-note chord comprised of a diminished triad with a minor 7th interval. It is symbolized by a circle with a diagonal line through it (ø7) or a min7b5 notation, such as Bø7 or Bmin7b5. This chord is used to create a sense of tension and melancholy, often serving as a passing chord or as a substitute for a dominant chord. Its distinctive dissonance and ambiguous tonality contribute to its unique and introspective character, adding color and depth to musical compositions.
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Common chord symbols:
°7, o7, dim7
A diminished 7th chord is a four-note chord formed by stacking three minor thirds on top of each other, creating a symmetrical pattern. In other words, it is comprised of the root, minor third, diminished 5th, and diminished 7th intervals.
Diminished chords are symbolized by a circle ("o"), a superscript circle (°), or a dim7 notation, such as Cdim7. This chord is very rarely used in worship contexts due to its tension and instability, and is more often seen in classical or jazz music.
ⓘ For more info on using these chords in different key signatures,
check out our major key cheat sheets here.
What are Chord Alterations?
Chord alterations are additions or modifications made to basic chords and 7th chords that introduce unique tonal colors and tensions. They add flavor and character to the harmonies, transforming simple progressions into captivating timbres and sounds.
Alterations are always notated immediately after the chord name (ex. C7), and are indicated by symbols, accidentals, and/or numbers (Ex. C7b9).
Chord Alteration Symbols
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A sus4 chord, short for suspended 4th chord, replaces the 3rd of a chord with its 4th note. This substitution creates a suspended, open sound, with the 4th of the scale seeking resolution downward to the 3rd of the chord.
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A sus2 chord, short for suspended 2nd chord, replaces the 3rd of a chord with its 2nd note. This substitution creates a suspended, open sound, with the 2nd of the scale often resolving upward to the 3rd of the chord.
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The aug (+), short for augmented, is an alteration that raises or “augments” the fifth interval of the chord. It creates a distinctively bright, edgy, and tense quality, often used to add tension or create a sense of urgency in music.
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The (add 9) symbol in chord notation indicates the addition of the ninth note of the chord to a basic triad. It expands the harmonic palette of the chord, adding a rich and warm quality to the sound without altering the other chord tones.
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The “b5” symbol in chord notation indicates the alteration of the fifth note of a chord, lowering it by a half-step (one semitone). This modification results in a diminished fifth interval, creating a dissonant and tense quality in the chord's sound. It is almost exclusively used in 7th chords.
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The "#5" symbol in chord notation indicates the alteration of the fifth note of a chord, raising it by a half-step (one semitone). This modification results in an augmented fifth interval, adding a sharp and bright quality to the chord's sound. This symbol is almost exclusively used for 7th chords.
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The "6" symbol in chord notation indicates the addition of a major sixth interval from the root of the chord. It enriches the chord's sound with a warm and harmonically pleasing tone, often used to add color and sweetness to a progression without altering the other chord tones.
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The "6/9" symbol in chord notation indicates the addition of both the sixth and ninth notes of the chord to a basic triad. It creates a lush and expansive sound, combining the warmth of the sixth with the added color of the ninth to create a harmonically rich and versatile chord. None of the main triad notes are altered.
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The "b9" symbol in chord notation indicates the alteration of the ninth note of a chord, lowering it by a half-step (one semitone). This modification creates a dissonant and tense quality in the chord, adding more complexity, color, and tension to its sound. It is almost exclusively used in dominant 7th chords.
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The "9" symbol in chord notation indicates the addition of the ninth note of the scale to a basic triads or 7th chords. Adding the ninth to 7th chords creates a rich and colorful extension, often used to create a jazzy or sophisticated sound.
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The "#9" symbol in chord notation indicates the alteration of the ninth note of a chord, raising it by a half-step (one semitone). This modification creates a dissonant and tense quality in the chord, adding more complexity, color, and tension to its sound. It is almost exclusively used as an alteration in dominant 7th chords.
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The "11" symbol by itself in chord notation indicates the addition of the eleventh note of the scale to a dominant seventh chord. However, the 11th note of the chord is considered an avoid note due to its inherent clash with the 3rd of the chord. To compensate for this, the 3rd of the chord is often omitted. The result is a distinctive and open sound, with a little less tension than a regular dominant 7th chord but with the same drive to resolve.
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The "#11" symbol in chord notation indicates the alteration of the eleventh note of the scale, raising it by a half-step (one semitone). This is an added alteration, meaning that the other chord tones are not affected.
It brings a heightened sense of tension and complexity to the chord, commonly used in jazz and other genres to add richness and color to harmonic progressions.
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The "b13" symbol in chord notation indicates the addition of an altered thirteenth note of a chord, lowering it by a half-step (one semitone). This modification creates a dark and bluesy quality, adding a touch of dissonance and richness to its sound.
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The "13" symbol on its own in chord notation (ex. D13), indicates the addition of the thirteenth note of the chord—with the 7th and 9th intervals optional—to a dominant seventh chord. If the 13 is preceded by a major or minor notation (ex. Dm13), the chord is not considered dominant in function.
What are Slash Chords?
C/E?
Slash chords, also known as split chords, provide additional clarity when specific bass notes or inversions are desired. They are written with a chord symbol followed by a slash ("/") and a note name indicating the desired bass note. For example, C/E represents a C major chord with E in the bass. Slash chords are particularly useful for band musicians who read lead sheets, as they allow for more precise accompaniment and chord voicings. In a solo instrument context, the player performs both the chord and bass note simultaneously.
The Ultimate Guide to Chord Alterations in All Keys
Congratulations! Now that you understand the building blocks of chords, symbols, and alterations, now it’s time to bring it all together and head on over to our cheat sheets!
