Some More Chords In The Key Structure Of C Major
Basically any chords that are made up from the notes of a C Major scale
will fit inside the key structure.
So apart from the seven main chords and their extensions there are a few
other useful chords to consider.
C sixth [ C6 ] = 1 + 3 + 5 + 6
C add 9 - as the name suggests you just add the ninth note of the scale
to a C triad = 1 + 3 + 5 + 9
F 6
F add 9
G 6
G add 9
D minor sixth [ Dm6 ]
Suspended [ sus ] Chords
A 'sus' chord is a triad in which the normal 3rd has been taken out and
replaced by a 2nd or 4th. e.g. : -
C sus 2 = 1 + 2 + 5
C sus 4 = 1 + 4 + 5
Here are the other sus chords that fit into the key structure.
D sus 2
D sus 4
D7 sus 2 [ 1 + 2 + 5 + 7 ]
D7 Sus 4 [ 1 + 4 + 5 + 7 ]
E sus 4
E7 sus 4
F sus 2
G sus 2
G sus 4
G7 sus 4
A sus 2
A sus 4
A7 sus 2
A7 sus 4
Sus chords sound a bit vague and indefinite - in the right context they
can sound great but best to use them sparingly.
Slash Chords
Slash chord is the shorthand name for an altered bass note chord.
A common example might be C major seventh with the major seventh note at
the bottom of the chord - this would be written Cmaj7/B
i.e. Cmaj7 'slash' B - hence the name.
You could also say ' C Major Seven Over B '
Exercise
Try to write an eight bar melody using only the scale of C Major then try
to sing it over a selection of chords from the Key Structure of C Major.
With the extensions + the chords shown on this page we now have about 50 chords
to choose from !
Don't go mad - just use a few at a time and remember that just six chords
are at the heart of this key structure.
If you're not up for singing but can record either the chords or the melody
do that instead.