This week’s question comes from Sunny:
“Thanks Jermaine, please can you spell out the C7 (#9#5) chord?”
My answer:
Great question Sunny because tons of people still struggle with altered chords.
When you see a “#” (sharp) or “b” (flat) appended to a chord, it’s signifying that something needs to be altered in the chord.
So the first step is to simply lay out the underlying chord.
In this case, C7 (a.k.a – “C Dominant 7”)
C7 (C + E + G + Bb)
Remember, dominant 7 chords start out like regular major chords (C + E + G). The only difference is the 7th degree is flatted. That gives you Bb instead of B. If this chord had “B,” it would be a C major 7 chord. Key point!
Now, the only other thing you need to understand is:
# (sharp) means to raise by a half step.
b (flat) means to lower by a half step.
That’s it. If you remember this, it’s hard to go wrong.
And what is this chord asking us to do?
Answer: To simply play a C dominant 7 but with a “raised 9th tone” and a “raised 5th tone.”
Because our underlying chord is 1 + 3 + 5 + b7 (if you spelled it out using numbers), we can start off with the easiest change — raising the 5th.
Remember, if you want to be correct, when you raise something, you never change the alphabet letter.
Since G is the 5th, we’re raising the G to G# (as opposed to using the favored “Ab” to describe this chord).
Because “A” is the 6th tone, using “Ab” would be the equivalent of saying “b6” and this chord asked for #5. Even though G# and Ab yield the same sound, G# is the correct note because it is literally the 5th tone being raised.
So the chord is now C + E + G# + Bb
We’re not done because this chord also needs a #9.
The first step is to simply add to the chord whatever the regular 9th would be.
C is 1, D is 2, E is 3, F is 4, G is 5, A is 6, B is 7, C is 8, D is 9.
So, “D”, in the next octave up, is the 9th. Simply add it to the chord.
We’re not done because this chord didn’t ask for the “regular” 9th… it needs the “raised 9th.”
That gives us D#.
Why not Eb? Because we’re looking to take the 9th tone, D, and raise it without changing the alphabet letter. So, we simply use D#.
Side note: Professional musicians will say Eb or D#… same with the G# and Ab. At some point, at a practical level, it really doesn’t matter if you’re the type that just wants to play! But if you were taking a music theory test or something (why would you???), then it would matter. But whether you say “I’m not going” or “I ain’t going”… the same idea is conveyed. Theoreticians will hate me but that’s why they’re… theoreticians!
So the final chord: C7 #9#5 (C E G# Bb D#)
Can you do this to F7 #9 #5?
You try first, then scroll down to get my answer:
F7 #9 #5 (F A C# Eb G#)
How about G7 #9#5?
Go ahead, try it.
G7 #9#5 (G B D# F A#)
Hope this helps!
