How To Remember Larger Extended Chords

What Are Chords?

Chords are defined as a combination of tones which blend harmoniously when sounded together.

Three toned chord is called a triad. Read more about The Three Primary Chords

Four toned chord is a seventh. Read about Voicing 7th Chords

Five toned chord a ninth. Check out my post on The 9th Chord

Six toned chord an eleventh.

Eleventh chords are a lot easier to remember, especially if you know your seventh chord. The easiest way to think of this chord is the Major chord + the "5" dominant seventh chord. In the key of C major, this is simply C major (C-E-G) under a G7 (because G is the fifth tone of the C major scale. Use its dominant chord, which is G7). So, C maj + G7 = Cmaj11 (CEGBDF)

Formula for Remembering Eleventh Chords

Major eleventh: 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11

Minor eleventh: 1 + b3 + 5 + b7 + 9 + 11 

(Cmin11: C Eb G Bb D F)

Dominant eleventh: 1 + 3 + 5 + b7 + 9 + 11 

(C11 : CEGBDF)

Dominant:

The dominant eleventh is identical to the dominant minor except for one change.

Major chord +b7 major chord = Dominant eleventh chord.

Instead of playing a minor chord at the bottom (like you did with this min11 chord, simply play a regular major triad. In  C major, this is Cmaj (C E G) under Bbmaj (Bb D F). Basically, 2 major triads stacked on top of each other. C11 =  Cmaj + Bbmaj

Seven toned chord a thirteenth. Finding Thirteenth Chords on Keyboard

The formulas for the three thirteenth chords:

Major thirteenth: 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13

Cmaj13: C E G B D F

The major seventh chord + 2 major chord = Major 13th chord.

Example: Key of C, C maj7 (CEGB) under Dmaj (DFA).

All played together (CEGBDFA) create a Cmaj13 chord.

Minor thirteenth: 1 + b3 + 5 + b7 + 9 + 11 + 13

Cmin13: C Eb G Bb D F A

Min seventh chord + 2 major chord = minor 13th chord.

Example: Key of C, Cmin7 (C Eb G Bb) under Dmaj (D F A).

Cmin13 = C Eb G Bb D F A (Cmin7 + Dmaj)

Dominant thirteenth: 1 + 3 + 5 + b7 + 9 + 11 + 13

C13: C E G B D F A

Dominant seventh chord + 2 major chord + Major thirteenth chord.

Example: Key of C, this is C7 (C E G Bb) under Dmaj (D F A)

C13 = C E G Bb D F A

Either way, play C on your left hand while playing a Bbmaj7 on your right hand.

L.H. / R.H.

C / BbDFA

This produces the same sound as a 13th chord, just without the third and fifth present. Notice the Bb is the 7th of C... the D is the 9th... the F is the 11th... and the A is the 13th.

Other Posts on Chords:

Quartal and Quintal Chords

You'll find lots of information to chord study in a music theory handbook available for purchase, 300pg Piano By Ear Home Study Course

photo credit: The Music Man via photopin (license)
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Blessings,






"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Altering Chords

English: Dominant seventh flat five chord on C (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 I have learned a great deal of information from Jermaine Grigg's, especially the section on altered chords from his course, The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear 

Introduction to Altering Chords

"Any chord, whether major, minor, augmented or seventh, can be modified or 'altered' thereby changing its character or color. In particular, with the dominant seventh which is mainly characterized by three notes: the root, major third and minor seventh; the fifth, ninth eleventh and thirteenth may be altered.

Raising or lowering the notes of a chord and its extensions by a half step may change its dissonance. This increases the 'tension' of the chord and increases the sense of release as one moves to a less dissonant chord (the tonic). Care must be taken that these altered chords are correctly numbered."

Example: C9 (+11) represents a C ninth chord with the root, a major 3rd, a perfect 5th, a flattened 7th, a major ninth and a sharpened 11th.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

Example: C#9 (#11) represents a C# ninth chord with the root, a major 3rd, a perfect 5th, a flattened 7th, a major ninth and a sharpened 11th.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

 Example: C7 (b9b5) represents a C seventh chord with the root, major 3rd, diminished 5th, minor 7th and minor 9th.

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C

The main purpose of altering chords is to increase the effectiveness in a progression. In previous lessons, we've already learned how a dominant seventh is more effective than a dominant triad in "2-5-1" and other chord progressions.

I recommend to my friends, The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear
The book goes on to explain using altered chords in the 2-5-1 progression, in the 3-6-2-5-1 progression and the 7-3-6-2-5-1. 

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"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Related articles

• The 9th Chord
• Altered Chords
• Play Diminished 7th, Half Diminished 7th Chords