Chords

Chords are a musical notation widely used in popular music to indicate chords and harmonic structures in a practical and accessible way. Unlike traditional sheet music, which requires a deep knowledge of music reading, chords offer a simplified way to represent chords, making music more accessible to a wide variety of musicians.

Chords are especially useful for musicians because they allow quick and easy reading of chords, facilitating the performance of a song without the need to read complex sheet music.

The notation of chords is based on the letters of the alphabet:

• A: A
• B: B
• C: C
• D: D
• E: E
• F: F
• G: G

In addition to letters, chords can include other symbols that indicate modifications to the chords, such as sharps (#), flats (b), and types of chords (major, minor, diminished, etc.).

Reading Chords

To read chords, it is important to understand the basic structure of chords and the additional symbols that may accompany them. Here are some common examples of chords and their meanings:

• C: C major
• Cm: C minor
• C7: C seventh
• Cm7: C minor seventh
• C7M: C major seventh
• C#: C sharp major
• Cb: C flat

More Complex Structures

In addition to basic chords, chords can include more complex chords such as 9th, 11th, and 13th chords, suspended chords (sus), diminished and half-diminished chords. Let's explore each of these types of chords:

9th, 11th, and 13th Chords

These chords add more notes to the basic triad (root, third, and fifth) and the seventh.

• C(9): C ninth
• C(11): C eleventh
• C(13): C thirteenth
• C7(9): C seventh with ninth

Suspended Chords (sus)

Suspended chords replace the third with a fourth or a second, creating a sense of suspension.

• Csus2: C suspended two
• Csus4: C suspended four

Diminished and Half-Diminished Chords

Diminished chords have a diminished fifth (lowered by a half step) and may include a diminished seventh.

• C°: C diminished
• Cm7(b5) or Cø: C half-diminished (C minor seventh with diminished fifth)

Inverted Chords

Inverted chords occur when the lowest note (the bass) is not the root of the chord, but the third, fifth, or seventh.

• C/E: C with E in the bass
• C/G: C with G in the bass
• C/B: C with B in the bass

Altered Chords

These are chords that have alterations in their fifths and ninths (b5, #5, b9, and #9).

• C7(#9): C seventh with augmented ninth
• C7(b9): C seventh with minor ninth
• C7(#5): C seventh with augmented fifth
• C7(b5): C seventh with diminished fifth

What Chords Don't Specify

Although chords are very useful, they do not specify some details of the performance, leaving some freedom to the musician.

1) The Position of the Chord

The chord does not determine the exact position of the notes in the chord. A C chord can be played in various positions along the neck of the guitar, for example. The notes are the same, but the position may vary.

2) Simultaneous or Arpeggio Order

The chord also does not specify whether the chord should be played simultaneously (vertically) or in an arpeggio (horizontally). This is up to the musician and the desired arrangement.

3) Doublings and Suppressions of Notes

Musicians have the freedom to double or suppress certain notes in the chord. For example, one can double the root and the perfect fifth, or suppress the perfect fifth, especially in arrangements where other instruments are already playing these notes.

Writing Chords

To write chords, follow these guidelines:

• Choose the Letter: Start with the letter corresponding to the root note of the chord.
• Indication of Alterations: Add sharp (#) or flat (b) symbols if the root note is altered.
• Type of Chord: Indicate the type of chord (major, minor, seventh, etc.) using the appropriate abbreviations.
• Additions and Modifications: Include additions (9th, 11th, 13th), suspensions (sus2, sus4), or inversions (bass note separated by a slash).

For example, if you want to write an E minor chord with seventh and ninth, the chord would be "Em7(9)".

Reading Chords in a Song

Reading chords is relatively simple. They are usually written above the lyrics of the songs, indicating the moment when each chord should be played. The position of the chord over the song's lyrics helps the musician synchronize the chord changes with the words of the song.

For example:

This sequence indicates that the musician should play the chords C (C major), G (G major), F (F major), and C (C major) in the presented order.

Conclusion

Chords are a powerful and practical tool for musicians of all levels. They simplify musical notation, facilitating the performance and sharing of music. With a little practice and familiarity, any musician can take advantage of the benefits of chords to expand their repertoire and improve their performance skills. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced musician, chords are an indispensable resource in the world of music.