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Altered

Altered dominant chords

Altered dominant (b9, #9, b5/#11, #5/b13): chord tones C-E-Bb plus the altered tensions Db(b9), Eb(#9), Gb(b5), Ab(#5). Built from the altered scale (7th mode of melodic minor): C altered = Db melodic minor, spelled C-Db-Eb-Fb-Gb-Ab-Bb.

In every key

The same shape, moved. The symbols below are spelled the way the app spells them, which is the spelling the chord's own scale asks for rather than whichever accidental is easier to type.

  • C7alt
  • Db7alt
  • D7alt
  • Eb7alt
  • E7alt
  • F7alt
  • F#7alt
  • G7alt
  • Ab7alt
  • A7alt
  • Bb7alt
  • B7alt

Voicings

Written in C, because that is the key the encyclopedia authors them in; every one transposes unchanged.

Basic (1-3-b7-b9)

C · E · Bb · Db

advanced

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Rootless (3-b7-b9-b5)

E · Bb · Db · Gb

advanced

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Full Altered

Db · E · Bb · D#

expert

Octaves shown are the app's default ascending voicing.

Altered tones: b9 (Db), 3 (E), b7 (Bb), #9 (D#)

Herbie #9 Cluster (3-b7-b9-#9)

E · Bb · Db · D#

expert

Tight b9/#9 cluster over the guide tones — Herbie altered crunch

Upper Structure bVI (b7-b13-1-#9)

Bb · Ab · C · D#

expert

Ab-major upper structure over the b7 — the bVI altered sound

Rootless Altered Spread (3-b13-b9-#11)

E · Ab · Db · F#

expert

Rootless altered spread — 3 + the b9/#11/b13 alterations

Upper Structure #IV (F#) (#11-b7-b9)

F# · Bb · Db

expert

RH 1-3-5 across F#-Bb-Db; spread voicing, let the top b9 sing above the b7.

Where it turns up

Creates maximum tension! Used in bebop and modern jazz for dramatic V7 resolutions. Very dissonant but resolves beautifully.

Commonly swapped with

  • C7#9
  • C7b9
  • C7#5
  • Db7

Progressions that use it

Every one of these is written out with the hands on a keyboard and on a stave.