Ninth chord
Encyclopedia
A ninth chord is a chord
that encompasses the interval of a ninth when arranged in close position with the root
in the bass.
A dominant ninth is a dominant chord
with a ninth. A ninth chord, as an extended chord
, typically includes the seventh along with the basic triad structure. Thus, a Cmaj9 consists of C E G B and D . When the symbol "9" is not preceded by the word "major" or "maj", the implied seventh is a dominant seventh—e.g. a C9 consists of C E G B and D , and would usually be expected to resolve into a chord of F major (the implied key, C being the dominant of F). The ninth is commonly chromatically altered by half-step either up or down to create more tension and dissonance.
In the common practice period
, "the root, 3rd, 7th, and 9th are the most common factors present in the V9 chord," with the 5th, "typically omitted". The 9th and 7th usually resolve downward to the 5th and 3rd of I.
The minor ninth chord is played with the third and seventh both flattened. The formula is 1, 3, 5, 7, 9. This chord is written as Cm9. This chord has a more "bluesy" sound and fits very well with the dominant 9th.
An added
ninth chord is a major triad
with an added ninth. Thus, Cadd9 consists of C E G and D. (The D, which might be called an added second, is two fifth
s up from the root.) Added ninth chords differ from other ninth chords because the seventh is not included.
The 6/9 chord is a pentad
in which a major triad is extended with a sixth and 9th above the root, but no seventh, thus: C6/9 is C,E,G,A,D. It is not a tense chord requiring resolution, and is considered a substitute for the tonic in jazz
. Its constituent notes are those of the pentatonic scale.
Heinrich Schenker
, though he allowed the substitution of the dominant seventh, leading-tone
, and leading tone half-diminished seventh chord
s, rejected the concept of a ninth chord on the basis that only that on the fifth scale degree
(V9) was admitted and that inversion was not allowed of the ninth chord.
In music
, the second factor
of a chord
is the note or pitch
two scale degrees above the root or tonal
center. When the second is the bass note
, or lowest note, of the expressed chord, the chord is in third inversion . However, this is equivalent to a gapped eleventh chord
.
Conventionally, the second is third in importance to the root, fifth
, and third, being an added tone. It is generally not allowed as the root since that inversion resembles an eleventh chord on the second rather than an added tone chord on the original note. In jazz chords and theory, the second is required due to its being an added tone.
The quality
of the second may be determined by the scale or may be indicated. For example, in both a major and minor scale a diatonic second added to the tonic chord will be major (C-D-E-G or C-D-E-G) while one added to the dominant chord will be major or minor (G-A-B-D or G-A-B-D), respectively.
The second is octave
equivalent to the ninth. If one could cut out the note in between the fifth and the ninth and then drop the ninth down an octave to a second, one would have a second chord (CEGBD' – B = CDEG). The difference between sus2
and add9 is conventionally the absence or presence, respectively, of the third
.
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
that encompasses the interval of a ninth when arranged in close position with the root
Root (chord)
In music theory, the root of a chord is the note or pitch upon which a triadic chord is built. For example, the root of the major triad C-E-G is C....
in the bass.
A dominant ninth is a dominant chord
Dominant (music)
In music, the dominant is the fifth scale degree of the diatonic scale, called "dominant" because it is next in importance to the tonic,and a dominant chord is any chord built upon that pitch, using the notes of the same diatonic scale...
with a ninth. A ninth chord, as an extended chord
Extended chord
In music, extended chords are tertian chords or triads with notes extended, or added, beyond the seventh. Ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth chords are extended chords...
, typically includes the seventh along with the basic triad structure. Thus, a Cmaj9 consists of C E G B and D . When the symbol "9" is not preceded by the word "major" or "maj", the implied seventh is a dominant seventh—e.g. a C9 consists of C E G B and D , and would usually be expected to resolve into a chord of F major (the implied key, C being the dominant of F). The ninth is commonly chromatically altered by half-step either up or down to create more tension and dissonance.
Common practice period
The common practice period, in the history of Western art music , spanning the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, lasted from c. 1600 to c. 1900.-General characteristics:...
, "the root, 3rd, 7th, and 9th are the most common factors present in the V9 chord," with the 5th, "typically omitted". The 9th and 7th usually resolve downward to the 5th and 3rd of I.
Added tone chord
An added tone chord is a non-tertian chord composed of a tertian triad and an extra "added" note. The added note is not a seventh , but typically a non-tertian note, which cannot be defined by a sequence of thirds from the root, such as the added sixth or fourth...
ninth chord is a major triad
Triad (music)
In music and music theory, a triad is a three-note chord that can be stacked in thirds. Its members, when actually stacked in thirds, from lowest pitched tone to highest, are called:* the Root...
with an added ninth. Thus, Cadd9 consists of C E G and D. (The D, which might be called an added second, is two fifth
Perfect fifth
In classical music from Western culture, a fifth is a musical interval encompassing five staff positions , and the perfect fifth is a fifth spanning seven semitones, or in meantone, four diatonic semitones and three chromatic semitones...
s up from the root.) Added ninth chords differ from other ninth chords because the seventh is not included.
The 6/9 chord is a pentad
Pentachord
A pentachord in music theory may be either of two things. In pitch-class set theory, a pentachord is defined as any five pitch classes, regarded as an unordered collection . In other contexts, a pentachord may be any consecutive five-note section of a diatonic scale...
in which a major triad is extended with a sixth and 9th above the root, but no seventh, thus: C6/9 is C,E,G,A,D. It is not a tense chord requiring resolution, and is considered a substitute for the tonic in jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. Its constituent notes are those of the pentatonic scale.
Heinrich Schenker
Heinrich Schenker
Heinrich Schenker was a music theorist, best known for his approach to musical analysis, now usually called Schenkerian analysis....
, though he allowed the substitution of the dominant seventh, leading-tone
Leading-tone
In music theory, a leading-note is a note or pitch which resolves or "leads" to a note one semitone higher or lower, being a lower and upper leading-tone, respectively....
, and leading tone half-diminished seventh chord
Half-diminished seventh chord
In music theory, the half-diminished seventh chord is created by taking the root, minor third, diminished fifth and minor seventh of any major scale; for example, C half-diminished is . Its consecutive intervals are minor 3rd, minor 3rd, major 3rd...
s, rejected the concept of a ninth chord on the basis that only that on the fifth scale degree
Degree (music)
In music theory, a scale degree or scale step is the name of a particular note of a scale in relation to the tonic...
(V9) was admitted and that inversion was not allowed of the ninth chord.
Second
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, the second factor
Factor (chord)
In music, a factor or chord factor is a member or component of a chord. These are named root, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, and so on, for their generic interval above the root....
of a chord
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
is the note or pitch
Pitch (music)
Pitch is an auditory perceptual property that allows the ordering of sounds on a frequency-related scale.Pitches are compared as "higher" and "lower" in the sense associated with musical melodies,...
two scale degrees above the root or tonal
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
center. When the second is the bass note
Bass note
In music theory, the bass note of a chord or sonority is the lowest note played or notated. If there are multiple voices it is the note played or notated in the lowest voice. While the bass note is often the root or fundamental of the chord, it does not have to be, and sometimes one of the other...
, or lowest note, of the expressed chord, the chord is in third inversion . However, this is equivalent to a gapped eleventh chord
Eleventh chord
In music, an eleventh chord is a chord which contains the tertian extension of the eleventh. Typically found in jazz, an eleventh chord will also usually include the seventh and ninth along with elements of the basic triad structure. Variants include the dominant eleventh, minor eleventh, and the...
.
Conventionally, the second is third in importance to the root, fifth
Fifth (chord)
In music, the fifth factor of a chord is the note or pitch five scale degrees above the root or tonal center. When the fifth is the bass note, or lowest note, of the expressed chord, the chord is in second inversion ....
, and third, being an added tone. It is generally not allowed as the root since that inversion resembles an eleventh chord on the second rather than an added tone chord on the original note. In jazz chords and theory, the second is required due to its being an added tone.
The quality
Major and minor
In Western music, the adjectives major and minor can describe a musical composition, movement, section, scale, key, chord, or interval.Major and minor are frequently referred to in the titles of classical compositions, especially in reference to the key of a piece.-Intervals and chords:With regard...
of the second may be determined by the scale or may be indicated. For example, in both a major and minor scale a diatonic second added to the tonic chord will be major (C-D-E-G or C-D-E-G) while one added to the dominant chord will be major or minor (G-A-B-D or G-A-B-D), respectively.
The second is octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
equivalent to the ninth. If one could cut out the note in between the fifth and the ninth and then drop the ninth down an octave to a second, one would have a second chord (CEGBD' – B = CDEG). The difference between sus2
Suspended chord
A suspended chord is a chord in which the third is omitted, replaced usually with either a perfect fourth or a major second , although the fourth is far more common...
and add9 is conventionally the absence or presence, respectively, of the third
Third (chord)
In music, the third factor of a chord is the note or pitch two scale degrees above the root or tonal center. When the third is the bass note, or lowest note, of the expressed triad, the chord is in first inversion ....
.