Chord Building From Scales Two Chord Types Theory

Learn How To Build Chords From Scales Two-Chord-Types Theory

Chord Building From Scales is an excellent method for building chords. It also shows that there are only two chord types.

Take the Ionian (major), Dorian (minor), and Mixolydian (dominant ) scales.
Break the scales down into four segments, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, b7-7.

Build chords by taking a note from each segment of the scale.

You build your first triad with notes from segment, 1, 2, 3, (R, 3rd, 5th).

There are two notes left over, the 6th and 7th (b7, 7).

Any 4-note chord that you form must use one of those two notes.

So every 4-note chord that you build is either a 6th chord or a 7th chord.

The 6th chord comes in two flavors, major and minor.

The 7th chord comes in five flavors: major, minor, diminished, augmented, or dominant.

Learn to finger the 6th and 7th chords in all keys and you will know the fingering for all chords
– 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th.

SUMMARY

7th Chords. A 6th chord is also a 7th chord a 3rd down.

C6 = Am7

Cm6 = Am7-5

C6/9 = A7sus4

9th Chords. A 6th chord is also a 9th chord a 5th down.

C6 = Fmaj9

Cm6 = F9

11th Chords. A 6th chord is also an 11th chord a 7th down

C6 = D11

Cm6 = D11b9

9th Chords. A 7th chord is also a 9th chord a 3rd down.

Cmaj7 = Am9

C7 = Am7-9

Cm7 = Abmaj9

Cm(maj7) = Am9-5

Cdim7 = Ab7-9

Am7-5 = F9

11th Chords. A 7th chord is also an 11th chord a 5th down.

Cm7 = F11

Am7-5 = D11b9

A 7th chord is also an 11th chord a 7th down.

C7 = D11#5 *

13th Chords. A 7th chord is also a 13th chord a 7th down.

Cmaj7 = D13sus

Cmaj7b5 = D13

CmM7b5 = D13b9.

* D11#5 could probaply be better named Fmaj11.
That would maintain the structure, 9th chord a 3rd down,

11th chord a 5th down, 13th chord a 7th down.

Example using C scales.

Take the C7 chord
Raise the root to form C9 which is also

Gm6

Take the C9 chord
Raise the 3rd to form C11 which is also

Bb6

Take the C9 chord
Raise the 5th to form C13 which is also

Bbmaj7b5

Take the C11 chord
Raise the 5th to form C13sus which is also

Bbmaj7

Take the C7 chord
Raise the root and the 5th to form C13b9 which is also

BbmM7b5

Take the C7 chord
Raise the 3rd to form C7sus4 which is also

Eb6/9

So your 9th, 11th and 13th chords are probably 6th and 7th chords
that you already know and use, but now with just different bass note on the left hand.

9th chord = 7th chord a 3rd UP
or 6th chord a 5th UP
eg: F9 (C Eb G A) = Am7b5 = Cm6

11th chord = 7th chord a 5th UP
or 6th chord a 7th UP
eg: D11 (C E G A) = Am7 = C6

13th chord = 7th chord a 7th UP
eg: D13 (C E F# B) = Cmaj7b5

There doesn’t seem to be a general agreement on 13th chord, so I’ll
just go with one view.


C13 (Bbmaj7b5)	C13sus (Bbmaj7)

Advanced Piano Chord Building Technique

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Chord Building From Scales Two Chord Types Theory