What Do Chord Symbols Mean?
Frequently used as a form of notation, chord symbols are used primarily utilized in many forms of modern music and even some jazz styles. The main difference between these types of notation is that the chord symbols do not display the function of the chord. If you look at classical music, the Roman numerals can often be difficult to read, especially if the piece contains a lot of changes.
Root
The root, as you might expect, points the musician in the direction of the root of the chord. At this point, it is also worth bearing in mind that chord symbols also take into account inverted chords. You may also find that some of the chords will have a root that is not the base note. For example, in the E6 chord, the root will be E. However, if the chord symbol’s root differs from the base root, then this will be expressed by the bass note having a diagonal slash below the original symbol.
The Quality
In the symbol Cmaj7 – the maj simply means that the C chord is a major chord. The abbreviations that you see (maj, min, dim and aug), tell you quite simply whether the chord is major, minor, diminished, or augmented.
Extension
This is the part which informs the musician if the chord differs from a triad (a third chord). Quite often, you will find that there is no number in the extension position. In this case, the musician is to assume that the chord is a triad. In the example above, Cmaj7, the chord is therefore a seventh.
Alteration
The alterations in chord symbols are a bit like the appendix in a book – and it serves much the same purpose. Alterations are there to give any specific (and often seemingly irregular) instructions to the musician as they play the chord. The alteration is always written in parenthesis after the extension. The following is a brief breakdown of some of the most common alterations:
(no fifth) – the chord must be played with the fifth tone removed.
(sus) – signifies that the musician is to play the fourth scale note over the third. Sus is simply an abbreviation for suspension.
(-) – usually followed by a number, the minus sign refers to the lowering of a chord tone.
(+) – the opposite of the minus sign, and therefore refers to the rise of a particular chord tone.
When you look at a piece of sheet music, instead of seeing the music note for note, you will be able to understand more of the direction in which the music is going. Even better is the accompanying ability to improvise and make your own sounds – the beginning of a wonderful relationship between you and your music. Being able to read these chord tones will serve the musician in much the same way as a legends list on a map serves a lost navigator.
About the Author
Lauren Paltrow of LearnPiano-Reviews.com, specializes in helping aspiring pianists get the info that they need to make the right choices. Lauren leads her team of piano experts in constantly reviewing new courses and products in the market to make sure you get the best value products that work for you. Check out actual user reviews of the best piano courses and products at LearnPiano-Reviews.com.
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