Chord
symbols (for example, Cmaj7 or G6) are a type of notation
used frequently in jazz and other areas of modern
music to notate chord progressions and changes. This
type of notation differs from that of classical music
in that chord symbols don't show the function of a
chord the way the Roman numeral notation does. Chord
symbols, for modern music with lots of changes, are
much easier to read. They function as a sort of shorthand
for change-heavy music and are written with four chord
parts in mind: the root, the quality, the extension,
and the alterations.
The
first part in chord symbols, the root, tells the musician
which note is the root of the chord. In an E6 chord,
for instance, the E serves as the root. Chord symbols
also allow for inverted chords, or chords with a root
other than the bass note. These chord symbols express
that by showing the bass note with a diagonal slash
under the original symbol.
Quality,
the second part in chord symbols, denotes whether
the chord is major, minor, diminished, or augmented.
In a Cmaj7, the maj tells us that the C chord is major.
The abbreviations for this area in chord symbols are
maj, min, dim, and aug, respectively.
The
extension in chord symbols, written after the quality,
shows the musician if the chord differs from a triad
(a third chord), such as an eleventh or seventh. This
part of chord symbols is not always shown; if there
is no indication of an extension, the musician is
to assume that the chord is a triad.
The
last part in chord symbols, the alteration, is usually
but not always expressed. Think of this part as the
"notes" section in chord symbols; it gives
the musician any specific (and sometimes irregular)
instructions for playing the chord and is always written
in parentheses after the extension (or the quality,
if no extension exists). For instance, (no fifth)
would tell the musician that the chord is to be played
with the fifth tone left out. Sus – short for
“suspension”, would mean to play the 4th
scale note instead of the 3rd. A minus sign would
mean to lower (flat) a chord tone, such as C-9 which
would mean to flat the 9th of the chord. Conversely,
a plus sign would mean to raise (sharp) a particular
chord tone.
Reading
music using chord symbols allows a person to use written
music as a map, rather than a note-for-note approach.
By just reading the melody note and the chord symbols,
musicians can improvise to their hearts content and
create their own sounds on the keyboard.
The
best of all worlds, however, is to be able to read
music as it is written in a sheet music score, but
also be able to read the chord symbols. Then the musician
is free to choose which is best – the written
part, or an improvised part. The sky is the limit
for musicians who can do both.
Duane
Shinn is the author of over 500 music courses for
adults including "How To Add Runs & Fills To Your
Piano Playing!" www.pianolesson.tv
is used by pianists around the world. He is the
author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail
newsletter "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords
& Sizzling Chord Progressions" at www.playpiano.com
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