The Altered Scale / Chord
The altered scale and its associated chord are prominent in many musical genres including jazz, soul, and R&B. The altered chord is a great tension chord that is typically used in minor keys. (continued)
The scale is composed or the root, b9, #9, 3, b5, #5, and b7. The chord is a dominant seventh type chord with one or more of the altered 9ths and 5ths from the scale. Typical examples of its notation in a chord chart would be C7alt or C7(#5#9). Note that not all dominant chords with chromatic alterations are from the altered scale. For example, any 7th chord with a regular 13th would not be from the altered scale. Also, chords spelled out as dominant 7th with just a b9 are taken to be from the diminished scale.
Posted by brad under Music Theory |
