Articles tagged with: "altered dominant chords"

The Major Scale: The Foundation of Western Music
The major scale is the most fundamental scale in Western music. It's a seven-note diatonic scale that forms the basis for countless melodies, harmonies, and musical compositions across all genres....

Diminished Scales: A Guide to Symmetrical Patterns in Music
The diminished scale, also known as the octatonic scale, is a fascinating eight-note symmetrical scale that alternates between whole and half steps. It is a cornerstone of modern harmony, used …

Unlocking the Lydian Dominant (Lydian b7): A Comprehensive Guide
Dive deep into the Lydian Dominant scale (Lydian b7), the sound behind *The Simpsons* theme and countless jazz solos. This guide breaks down its theory, shows you how to build …

Mastering the 7#11 Chord: The Complete Guide to Dominant Seventh Sharp Eleven
The 7#11 chord, also known as the dominant seventh sharp eleven or lydian dominant, is a rich and colorful extension of the basic dominant seventh chord. This sophisticated harmony adds …

Musical Intervals: The Building Blocks of Music
Musical intervals are the distances in pitch between any two notes, serving as the fundamental element upon which melody, harmony, and scales are constructed. A strong understanding of intervals is...

The Hendrix Chord: Deconstructing the Dominant 7#9
Unravel the mystery behind one of rock's most iconic sounds. From its jazz origins to its explosive impact in the hands of Jimi Hendrix, we'll explore the theory, application, and …

The Ultimate Guide to the Dominant Seventh Chord
If there's one chord that acts as the engine of Western music, it's the dominant seventh. You've heard its tense, unresolved sound countless times in everything from Bach to blues, …

The Altered Scale: Your Ultimate Guide to Jazz Dominant Tension
Imagine a dominant chord that's not just pushing to resolve, but is practically screaming to. That's the sound of the altered scale. It's a collection of notes specifically chosen to …

Unlocking the Augmented Fifth: Your Guide to Musical Tension and Color
This article delves into the augmented fifth, a unique and colorful interval in music theory. We will explore its definition, its distinct, dissonant sound, and its crucial role in creating …

The Minor Pentatonic Scale: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners
This article explores the minor pentatonic scale: a comprehensive guide for beginners, covering its fundamental concepts, practical applications, and musical examples.

The Complete Musician's Guide to Altered Dominant (7alt) Chords
The altered dominant, commonly notated as 7alt, is a sophisticated dominant 7th chord that incorporates one or more altered extensions (b9, #9, b5, #5) to create maximum harmonic tension. This …

Altered Chords: Adding Color and Tension to Your Music
Altered chords are a cornerstone of modern harmony, providing a rich palette of tension and release by chromatically modifying standard chord tones. This guide demystifies altered dominant chords,...

I-IV-V-I Chord Progression: The Foundation of Western Music
The I-IV-V-I chord progression is arguably the most important harmonic sequence in Western music. This powerful and versatile progression serves as the structural backbone for countless songs in...

Unlocking Symmetrical Sounds: A Deep Dive into the Whole-Half Diminished Scale (Synthetic Scale 1)
This article provides a comprehensive guide to the octatonic scale, also known as the diminished scale or Synthetic Scale 1. We deconstruct its two primary forms—the Whole-Half and...

What is a Musical Note? Understanding the Building Blocks of Music
A musical note is the fundamental building block of music, representing both a specific sound and a written symbol. Understanding its core properties—pitch, duration, dynamics, and timbre—is the...

Augmented Chord: The Mysterious Symmetrical Harmony
The augmented chord, built by stacking two major thirds, is a perfectly symmetrical harmony that divides the octave into three equal parts. Its unique structure creates a sense of tension, …