Chords & Harmony
Stacking intervals into chords, and moving between them.
Augmented sixth chord
In music theory, an augmented sixth chord contains the interval of an augmented sixth, usually above its bass tone. This chord has its origins in the Renaissance, was further developed in the
Read → EntryAugmented triad
An augmented triad is a chord with a major third and an augmented fifth above the root. It is equivalent to a major chord whose top note (fifth) is augmented (raised by a chromatic semitone). When
Read → EntryBorrowed chord
A borrowed chord (also called chord borrowing, mode mixture, modal mixture, modal interchange, ) is a chord borrowed from the parallel key (minor or major scale with the same tonic). Borrowed chords
Read → EntryCadence
In Western musical theory, a cadence () is the end of a phrase in which the melody or harmony creates a sense of full or partial resolution, especially in music of the 16th century onwards. A
Read → EntryChord (music)
A chord is the simultaneous sound of two or more musical notes. The most common chord has three notes and is known as a triad. Added tone chords, extended chords, and tone clusters can have more than
Read → EntryChord progression
In a musical composition, a chord progression or harmonic progression (informally chord changes, used as a plural, or simply changes) is a succession of chords. Chord progressions are the foundation
Read → EntryConsonance and dissonance
In music, consonance and dissonance are categorizations of simultaneous or successive sounds. Within the Western tradition, some listeners associate consonance with sweetness, pleasantness, and
Read → EntryCounterpoint
In music theory, counterpoint is the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines (also called voices) that are harmonically dependent on each other, yet independent in rhythm and melodic
Read → EntryDiminished seventh chord
The diminished seventh chord is a four-note chord (a seventh chord) composed of a root note, together with a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a diminished seventh above the root: (1, 3, 5, 7).
Read → EntryDiminished triad
In music theory, a diminished triad is a triad with a minor third and a diminished fifth above the root. When using chord symbols, it may be indicated by the symbols "dim", "", "m 5 ", or " MI (5) ".
Read → EntryEleventh chord
In music theory, an eleventh chord is a chord that contains the tertian extension of the eleventh. Typically found in jazz, an eleventh chord also usually includes the seventh and ninth, and elements
Read → EntryFigured bass
Figured bass is musical notation in which numerals and symbols appear above or below (or next to) a bass note. The numerals and symbols (often accidentals) indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord
Read → EntryHalf-diminished seventh chord
In music theory, the half-diminished seventh chord (also known as a half-diminished chord or a minor seventh flat five chord) is a seventh chord composed of a root note, together with a minor third,
Read → EntryHarmony
In music, harmony is the concept of combining different sounds in order to create new, distinct musical ideas. Theories of harmony seek to describe or explain the effects created by distinct pitches
Read → EntryHomophony
In music, homophony (;, Greek: , homóphōnos, from , homós, "same" and , phōnē, "sound, tone") is a texture in which a primary part is supported by one or more additional strands that provide the
Read → EntryInversion (music)
In music theory, an inversion is a rearrangement of the top-to-bottom elements in an interval, a chord, a melody, or a group of contrapuntal lines of music. In each of these cases, "inversion" has a
Read → EntryModulation (music)
In music, modulation is the change from one tonality (either a tonic or a mode, or both) to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature (a key change). Modulations
Read → EntryMonophony
In music, monophony is the simplest of musical textures, consisting of a melody (or "tune"), typically sung by a single singer or played by a single instrument player (e.g., a flute player) without
Read → EntryNeapolitan chord
In Classical music theory, a Neapolitan chord (or simply a "Neapolitan") is a major chord built on the lowered (flat) second (supertonic) scale degree. In Schenkerian analysis, it is known as a
Read → EntryNinth chord
In music theory, a ninth chord is a chord that encompasses the interval of a ninth when arranged in close position with the root in the bass. Heinrich Schenker and also Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Read → EntryNonchord tone
A nonchord tone (NCT), nonharmonic tone, or embellishing tone is a note in a piece of music or song that is not part of the implied or expressed chord set out by the harmonic framework. In contrast,
Read → EntryPlagal cadence
In music theory, a plagal cadence is a type of harmonic cadence in which the subdominant chord moves directly to the tonic chord. It is also sometimes called the Amen cadence due to its prevalence at
Read → EntryPolyphony
Polyphony ( ) is a type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody, as opposed to a musical texture with just one voice (monophony) or a texture with one
Read → EntryRoot (chord)
In music theory, the root of a chord is the note that names and typifies the chord. Tertian chords are named based on (1) their root, (2) their quality (assumed to be major if no quality is named),
Read → EntrySecondary chord
Secondary chords are a type of altered or borrowed chord, chords that are not part of the music piece's key. They are the most common type of altered chord in tonal music. Secondary chords are
Read → EntrySeventh chord
A seventh chord is a chord consisting of a triad plus a note forming an interval of a seventh above the chord's root. When not otherwise specified, a "seventh chord" usually means a dominant seventh
Read → EntrySuspended chord
A suspended chord (or sus chord) is a musical chord in which the third is replaced by a dissonant tone like a perfect fourth or a major second. The resulting sound is tonally ambiguous. The practice
Read → EntryTexture (music)
In music, texture is how the tempo and the melodic and harmonic materials are combined in a musical composition, determining the overall quality of the sound in a piece. The texture is often
Read → EntryThirteenth (interval)
In music, a thirteenth can refer to either an interval or a
Read → EntryTriad (music)
In music, a triad is a set of three notes (or "pitch classes") that can be stacked vertically in thirds. Triads are the most common chords in Western music. When stacked in thirds, notes produce
Read → EntryVoice leading
Voice leading (or part writing) is the linear progression of individual melodic lines (voices or parts) and their interaction with one another to create harmonies, typically in accordance with the
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