How to Write Altered Chords
Writing altered chords is an essential skill for any musician looking to explore the vast and rich world of jazz and modern music. Altered chords, also known as diminished seventh chords, are formed by lowering the third and fifth notes of a dominant seventh chord. This results in a more complex and expressive sound, which can be used to create tension, release, and dramatic shifts in harmony. In this article, we will delve into the basics of how to write altered chords and provide some practical examples to help you incorporate this technique into your music.
Understanding the Structure
To write an altered chord, start with a dominant seventh chord. A dominant seventh chord consists of a root note, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. For example, the dominant seventh chord on the note C is C-E-G-Bb. To create an altered chord, lower the third and fifth notes by a half step. In the case of C dominant seventh, this would result in the altered chord C-Fb-Gb-Bb.
Common Altered Chords
There are several common altered chords that you can use in your music. Here are a few key examples:
1. Diminished chord: Lower the third and fifth notes by a whole step. For C dominant seventh, this would result in a diminished chord C-Bb-Gb-Bb.
2. Half-diminished chord: Lower the third note by a half step. In the case of C dominant seventh, this would give you a half-diminished chord C-Eb-G-Bb.
3. Minor seventh altered chord: Lower the third note by a half step and the fifth note by a whole step. For C dominant seventh, this would result in a minor seventh altered chord C-F-G-Bb.
4. Major seventh altered chord: Lower the fifth note by a whole step. The altered chord for C dominant seventh would be C-E-G-Bbb.
Practical Applications
Now that you have a basic understanding of altered chords, it’s time to put this knowledge into practice. Here are some practical applications for using altered chords in your music:
1. Improvisation: Altered chords can be used to create interesting and unexpected harmonic progressions when improvising. Experiment with playing altered chords over a standard progression or even create your own.
2. Composition: Incorporate altered chords into your compositions to add tension and release. You can use altered chords to transition between different sections of a song or to create a more dynamic and engaging piece.
3. Soloing: When soloing over an altered chord progression, you can use altered scales, such as the diminished scale, to match the harmonic complexity of the chords.
Conclusion
Writing altered chords is a valuable skill that can help you expand your musical vocabulary and create more expressive and complex music. By understanding the structure of altered chords and exploring their various applications, you can bring a new level of depth and sophistication to your playing and compositions. So, dive into the world of altered chords and discover the endless possibilities they offer!
