Differences Between Extended Chords...

[zedrein]

Hey all! I was just needing some confirmation on different chord types. Is it true that for a chord to be called a "7th", "9th", "11th", or "13th" it needs to contain a dominant 7th (b7) interval? I've noticed when reading these chords in jazz comp books they all contain the dominant (minor) 7th. So therefore would that mean that chords with a major 7th interval on top of a major triad are to be called "Major 7th" and all their extensions be called "add"? As in "add9", "add11", and "add13"? Do "9th", "11th", "13th" and "add9", "add11", and "add13" chords need to have all those intervals to qualify as that chord type? In other words does a G13 chords need a "b7", "9th", "11th", and "13th" on top of the major triad to qualify? Thanks for your time!

[walternewton]

Yes just a 9, 11, 13 indicates a dominant chord type (with a major 3 and a b7).

If you have a major 3 and a 7 you would have a Maj9, Maj11, Maj13.

If you have a minor 3 and a b7 you would have a min9, min11, min13.

No it is not necessary (or necessarily even desireable) to have every note present in something like a 13th chord (and you can't play a 7 note chord on a 6 string guitar anyway!)

[Malcolm]

Or a 7 note chord with only five fingers. You will want to bookmark this:
http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm

The items in parentheses (9, 11, etc.) are optional - you do not have enough fingers so these notes are optional. Plus if the G13 had all those notes sounded at one time (which you can do on piano with both hands) it's not going to sound especially nice.

Bass guitar would normally leave the higher notes for the solo instruments. Course when the bass takes a lead break and is playing melody he is a lead instrument.


Good luck.

[zedrein]

Then what does "add" indicate? Does it simply mean add a 9th interval (for example) and not necessarily a major 7th, too? So a C (add9) chord would be constructed with the necessary notes C-E-G as the triad and an added D on top for the compound 9th interval without including a minor 7th or major 7th interval as well?

[walternewton]

Yes add9 would generally indicate R 3 5 9.

Another resource you might want to check out.

[Malcolm]

Yes, that is the way I understand add9.

EDIT - we both posted at the same time.