Jump to content
Why become a member? ×
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt
  • advertisement_alt

Extended chord names


P-T-P
 Share

Recommended Posts

A tune we're learning has a chord in it that I've seen written down as being Amaj9.

The notes in the chord (as played on the guitar) are A - E - G# - B - E.

What's confusing me, in terms of the name of the chord, is the lack of a C# in the actual notes that are played in the song. If someone had asked me to play an Amj9 arpeggio I would have included a C# in there.

Wouldn't the missing C# make the B in the chord a suspended 2nd or does the fact that G# is present as the major 7th force the B, by default, to be a 9th?

Just to avoid any further confusion, the chord is almost certainly an A in the context of the tune as it serves to set-up a key change between A and E.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='dlloyd' post='215300' date='Jun 9 2008, 11:19 AM']Is anybody else playing a C#?[/quote]

Don't think so, vocal harmonies possibly.

Though my question grew more from the fact that I have seen that particular guitar chord voicing referred to as an Amaj9 (irrespective of the song I'm learning it happens to have cropped up in).

I wasn't particularly bothered by the chord name until I had to transpose to a different key and didn't like any of the voicings I'd come up with on my own so wanted to look for an alternative. I looked for the tab/chords for the song, where it's named as Amaj9 and if you do a search for Amaj9 chord shapes, that particular voicing commonly occurs (minus the C#).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dlloyd is right - or it could be a A maj 9 (no 3rd) - by leaving the third out, you can create an 'open' feel whose ambiguity creates a texture all of its own (its subtle but its there). Coltrane often played minor chords without thirds to create a similar effect.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='dlloyd' post='215334' date='Jun 9 2008, 11:58 AM']Is the voicing x02100? I would normally call that Amaj7 sus2 without any other context. If there is a C# anywhere in the harmonies it'll become an Amaj9.[/quote]

Yup, that's the voicing and Ama7 sus2 is excatly what I wanted to call it, but seeing it referred to as Amaj9 had me doubting. Serves me right for believing the internet. I'm pretty sure there's no C# anywhere else as it sounded a bit odd with the C# played in the guitar chord and in the overall sequence of chords it makes sense (to me at least) that it be absent as it's disappearance and re-appearance lead nicely into the key change.

[quote name='bilbo230763' post='215338' date='Jun 9 2008, 12:04 PM']dlloyd is right - or it could be a A maj 9 (no 3rd) - by leaving the third out, you can create an 'open' feel whose ambiguity creates a texture all of its own (its subtle but its there). Coltrane often played minor chords without thirds to create a similar effect.[/quote]

That makes sense too, the ambiguity creates a certain drama and allows for the possibility of moving in a couple of directions.

Thanks both.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...