9th chords|
9th chords |
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Ninth chords are created by adding the first scale-extension to an existing 7th chord, and modifying it to match the chord's function and style. Intervallically this note is a compound-second, and is the fifth odd-numbered note encountered when skipping through a scale in thirds (the first beyond the octave).
| scale degree | degree name | solfege syllable | note in C major | ||||
| octave---- | 9 | ninth | re | D | |||
| 7 | seventh | ti | B | ||||
| 5 | fifth | sol | G | ||||
| 3 | third | mi | E | ||||
| 1 | root | do | C | ||||
Three variations of ninths are available, and most seventh-chords support one or more of these variations, depending on its function. The ninth that occurs naturally in the major scale (equivalent to the second scale-degree) is the natural-nine. The equivalent note will be a whole-step above the first scale-degree, which is the root of the scale and the chord.
The variations are a half-step above (#) or below (b) the natural-nine. For the example above, the sharp-nine would be D sharp (D#) and the flat-nine would be D flat (Db). Each chord has a standard expectation of which ninths are matched to it, and in what function or use these ninths relate to. These are refered to as allowable ninths.
| seventh chord | allowable ninth[s] | comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C(maj7) | natural-nine (9) | #9 used for endings | ||
| C7 | flat-nine (b9), natural-nine (9), sharp-nine (#9) | b9 and #9 go together and suggest a minor target natural-nine suggests major |
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| Cm7 | natural-nine (9) | b9 is sometimes found on III-7 | ||
| Cm7(b5) | flat-nine (b9), natural-nine (9) | typical use for natural-nine is VI-7(b5) in minor | ||
| C°7 | natural-nine (9) | 9 not always available depending on function | ||
| C7(sus4) | flat-nine (b9), natural-nine (9), sharp-nine (#9) | b9 and #9 go together and suggest a minor target natural-nine suggests major |
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| Cmaj7(#5) | natural-nine (9) | standard jazz comping-voicing does not include 9th | ||
| Cmaj7(b5) | natural-nine (9) | standard jazz comping-voicing does not include 9th | ||
| Cm(maj7) | natural-nine (9) | no comment | ||
| C7(#5) | flat-nine (b9), natural-nine (9), sharp-nine (#9) | b9 and #9 go together and suggest a minor target natural-nine suggests major |
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| C7(b5) | flat-nine (b9), natural-nine (9), sharp-nine (#9) | b9 and #9 go together and suggest a minor target natural-nine suggests major |
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