Chord

Classification Criteria:

• Number of tones
• Identity within a scale
• Relative placement of each tone: Voicing

Criterion: Number of tones

3: Triad

	Third Interval	Fifth Interval	Chord
1	Major	Perfect	Major
2	Major	Augmented	Augmented
3	Major	Diminished	?
4	Minor	Perfect	Minor
5	Minor	Augmented	?
6	Minor	Diminished	Diminished

 

For > 3: Built on intervening thirds: Tertian Chord

Yes: Extended Chord

4: Seventh chord

	Third Interval	Fifth Interval	Seventh Interval	Chord
1	Major	Perfect	Major	Major 7th
2	Major	Perfect	Minor	Dominant 7th
3	Major	Perfect	Diminished	Major 6th?
4	Major	Augmented	Major	Augmented Major 7th
5	Major	Augmented	Minor	Augmented 7th
6	Major	Augmented	Diminished	?
7	Major	Diminished	Major	?
8	Major	Diminished	Minor	?
9	Major	Diminished	Diminished	?
10	Minor	Perfect	Major	mM
11	Minor	Perfect	Minor	Minor 7th
12	Minor	Perfect	Diminished	Minor 6th?
13	Minor	Augmented	Major	?
14	Minor	Augmented	Minor	?
15	Minor	Augmented	Diminished	?
16	Minor	Diminished	Major	?
17	Minor	Diminished	Minor	Half diminished 7th
18	Minor	Diminished	Diminished	Diminished 7th

 

5: Ninth chord

 

6: Eleventh chord

 

7: Thirteenth chord

 

No: Added Tone Chord

 

Criterion: Identity within a scale

Within a major scale, functions as its

• first chord: I
• second chord: ii
• third chord: iii
• fourth chord: IV
• fifth chord: V
• sixth chord: vi
• seventh chord: vii

 

Criterion: Relative placement of each tone: Voicing

Are there pre-determined patterns of relative placement?

Yes: Inversion

Number of possible inversions of a chord = Number of tones in the chord

Proximity of tones

• As close as possible: Closed Voicing
• Dispersed: Open Voicing