Important!  Print this report now, staple the pages together and refer to it often!

  Understanding Chord Harmonies, Embellishments
 and Substitutions
                                                                 by Steven Herron
 

Welcome to the fascinating world of chords! While this report is not meant to replace any of the fine harmony / theory books available that elaborate in greater detail, I think you will find it contains information that you can quickly and easily use to enhance and expand your own guitar playing regardless of what style of music you play. So let's get right into it!

A two octave C major scale would contain the following notes going from low to high:       
C1 - D2 - E3 - F4 - G5 - A6 - B7 - C8 - D9 - E10 - F11 - G12 - A13 - B14 - C15.  Notice that there is a number following each of the notes. These are the scale degrees that will be used to explain the "spelling" of the various chords.

A C major chord would consist of the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the major scale or C, E and G.  Instead of just playing a C major chord you could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will sound richer and fuller:
C major 6th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees or C, E, G and A
C major 7th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th degrees or C, E, G and B
C major 6/9 - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th degrees or C, E, G, A, and D
C major 9th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th degrees or C, E, G, B and D
C major 13th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 13th degrees or C, E, G, B,D and A

A C minor chord would consist of the 1st, b3rd and 5th degrees of the major scale or C, Eb, and G. Instead of just playing a C minor chord you could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will sound richer and fuller:
C minor 6th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th and 6th degrees or C, Eb, G and A.
C minor 7th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, and b7th degreesor C, Eb, G and Bb
C minor 6/9 - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th degrees or C, Eb, G, A and D
C minor 9th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th and 9th degrees or C, Eb, G, Bb, and D
C minor 11th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 11th degrees or C, Eb, G, Bb, D and F
C minor 13th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 13th degrees or C, Eb, G, Bb, D and A          

A C 7th chord would consist of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and b7th degrees of the major scale or C, E, G and Bb. Instead of just playing a C7th chord you could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will sound richer and fuller:
C 9th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th, and 9th degrees or C, E, G, Bb, and D
C 13th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 13th degrees or C, E, G, Bb, D and A

A C 7th sus4, C9th sus4 and C13th sus4 are merely the above C7th, C9th, and C13th chords with the 4th degree of the major scale or F added to them. By the way, a C9th sus4 and a C11th chord are really the same chord since they contain the same notes.

Often you will see the symbols +5, b5, +9 or b9 following the chord name. When you see a C 7th+5 you would now sharp the 5th degree or G and use a G# in the chord instead. The C7th+5 chord would consist of the 1st, 3rd, #5th and b7th degrees of the major scale or C, E, G# and Bb. The same principle would apply to the following examples:
C 7th b5 chord - consists of the 1st, 3rd, b5th and b7th degrees of the major scale or C, E, Gb and Bb
C 7th +9 chord - consists of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th and #9th degrees of the major scale or C, E, G, Bb & D#
C 7th b9 chord - consists of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th and b9th degrees of the major scale or C, E, G, Bb & Db

A C Dim 7th chord would consist of the 1st, b3rd, b5th and bb7th degrees of the major scale or C, Eb, Gb, and Bbb (A). Notice that this chord is unique in that it repeats itself every 3 frets up or down the guitar neck.
A C Minor (maj 7th) chord would consist of the 1st, b3rd, 5th and 7th degrees of the major scale or C, Eb, G
and B. This chord is often used to connect a C minor to a C minor 7th. The chord passage is typically played C minor-->C minor (maj 7th)-->C minor 7th-->C minor 6th.
A  C Aug (add 9) chord would consists of the 1st, 3rd, #5th and 9th degrees of the major scale or C, E, G#
and D. Notice that this chord is unique in that it repeats itself every 5 frets up or down the guitar neck.

As well as "embellishing" or "extending" chords you can also "substitute" certain chords for other chords. This can really start to enhance your playing because it affords you the ability to create more harmonic movement.

When you see a C major chord you could substitute a minor chord based on the 3rd degree (E) or 6th degree (A) of the major scale. So, instead of just playing a C major 7th you could now substitute an E minor 7th or an A minor 7th instead.

When you see a C7th chord you could substitute a minor chord based on the 5th degree (G) of the major scale. So instead of just playing a C7th, you could now substitute a G minor 7th instead.
When you see a C minor chord, you could substitute a major chord based on the b3rd (Eb) of the major scale. So, instead of playing a C minor 7th, you could now substitute an Eb major 7th.
For any chord type, you can always substitute another chord based on the b5th degree (Gb) of the major scale. So, when you see a C7th, C major 7th or C minor 7th chord, you could substitute a Gb7th, Gb major 7th or Gbminor 7th instead.

Diminished 7th chords can often be used to connect 2 other chords to each other. Let's say your chord progression was C major 7th--> D minor 7th-->E minor 7th-->F major 7th. 
You could now play C major 7th-->C#Dim 7th-->D minor 7th-->D# Dim 7th-->E minor 7th -->F major 7th instead.

"Backcycling" is another way to find substitute chords. Let's say your chord progression was C major-->G 7th-->C major. Find the note that's a perfect 5th above G and add a chord based on that note which would be a D note. Now your chord progression could be C major-->D minor 7th-->G 7th--> C major.
Next, let's find the note that's a perfect 5th above D and add a chord based on that note which would be an A note. Now your chord progression could be C major-->A 7th-->D minor 7th-->G 7th-->C major.
Next, let's find the note that's a perfect 5th above A and add a chord based on that note which would be an E note. Now your chord progression could be C major-->E minor 7th--> A 7th-->D minor 7th--> G 7th -->C major.

Hopefully, this report has helped clarify some of the confusion and mystery surrounding chords and harmony in general. Our website offers an enormous selection of books and videos that can help you pursue and understand chord harmony on a much deeper and broader level.

And, to help you on your journey we will include Stacy McKee's manual "Chord Forms & Arpeggio Patterns" which contains over 300 jazz guitar chords and single note arpeggios absolutely FREE with your first order.

Whatever you choose to do, I hope you'll start having some real fun experimenting with all the new possibilities that you've learned in this report!
                                                                Never B#, Never Bb, Just B natural,

                                                                                       Steven Herron

P.S.  I've included some guitar DVDs that focus on chord harmony and theory. I think you'll want to take a look at these also.