Part 3: Adding Natural Extensions

NATURAL EXTENSIONS WITH 7th CHORDS

Most commonly, extensions are added to chords that also have 7^ths. Our system reflects this. Chord symbols with natural extensions assume that a minor 7^th is included. Additionally, they include all extensions below the highest one you write. So…

• A 9 chord has a natural 9 but assumes the minor 7 is there too.
  • Ex. C9 has C E G (triad), Bb (minor 7), and D (9).
    • Notice that the 7 isn’t in the symbol but is implied?

• An 11 chord has the 11 and assumes the minor 7 and 9.
  • Ex. C-11 has C Eb G (triad), Bb (minor 7), D (9), and F (11)
    • See how the Bb and D are both implied?

• A 13 chord “officially” has the 13 and assumes the minor 7, 9, and 11.
  • Ex. C13 has C E G (triad), Bb (minor 7), D (9), F (11), and A (13)
    • Like the others, the 13 implies the notes below.

• NOTE: “Officially,” right? Two things…
  • In practice, if a 13 chord has a major 3^rd in it, we won’t play the 11.
    • Ex. C13 will likely be played C E G Bb D A. Notice there’s no F?
    • If we want the 11, then omit the 3 or play the 11 below the 3. But this is rare, so use your ear and do what sounds best.
    • No major 3^rd in the chord? No problem.
  • Comping musicians typically play incomplete versions of these big chords.

How about augmented and suspended chords?

• Treat these just like the chords with minor 7s above.
  • Ex. Caug9 or C9aug or even C+9
  • Ex. Csus9 (C9sus) is C F G (sus. triad) with Bb (minor 7), and D (9)
  • As before, its common to write sus or aug after the natural extensions.

NATURAL EXTENSIONS ON OTHER 7th CHORDS

Want a major 7? Write one of our symbols for major before the natural extension.

• Ex. Cmaj9 is C E G (major triad) with a B (major 7) and a D (9)
• Ex. C–∆11 is C Eb G (minor triad) with a B (major 7), a D (9) and an F (11)

Want a major 7 on a fully diminished chord?

• For fully diminished, it’s the same, but remember it has a diminished 7^th.
  • Ex. Co∆9 is rare, but it’d have a B in it (major 7)—very Herbie Hancock!

Half Diminished chords are trickier. 11^ths work just like above but there’s a lot of inconsistency in the handling of 9^ths and 13^ths.

Half diminished is usually paired with the locrian scale which has a minor 2^nd and minor 6^th. In practice, people handle extensions on these chords inconsistently. Let’s take a closer look.

• Ex. Cø13 is C Eb Gb (dim. triad) with Bb (minor 7), D (9?), F (11), Ab (13)
• Why 9? Well, Db is technically the correct 9^th for this chord, but in practice we’d leave it out as it’s an unpleasant clash with the root.
  • If the composer asks for a 9, they probably mean the major 9 interval.
• The 13 is fine as an Ab but this is so rare I don’t know what your musicians will play.
• Because these things aren’t consistent, you’ll just have to trust your ears.
• But the good news is, you’ll almost never see these in the wild.

The 69 Chord

Want to add a 9 to your 6-chord? Add the 9 to a 6-chord symbol which can be written as 69 or 6/9. Easy!