Question re: 9ths, 11ths, & 13ths

[Daishadj]

Hello Everyone. 

How do you determine when to play extended chords?  Do you just sit and start w/a note, no matter what degree of the scale that you are on, and start with the root of that chord and keep building 3rds onto it until you get the desired sound that you are looking for?  (I hope I am making sense).

and....

If this is the case, is there a simple song that someone can recommend that has these chords in them so that I can practice hearing these sounds in every key?  (I really hope I am making sense).

Thank you all, in advance, for your help.

[B3Wannabe]

"The Vision"...I can't remember the author....and "The Battle is Not Yours" - Yolanda Adams.

I use a lot of super-imposed chords (as DDW4E put it). The most I'll do is a 9th, in my right, but if you add it to the left hand, it'll make 11ths and 13ths a lot of the times.

C-E-G-B / D-F#-A-D (a DMaj over a CMaj7 = CMaj13)
C-E-Bb / Eb-Ab-C (a AbMaj over a C7 = "C7 #9#13")

Just practice doing diatonic chords. It's easier to do it in the key of C. Start on C then build your chord, and move it up diatonically, until you get to the next C. Do this with chords with 3 to 7 notes. Once you have those memorized, you can use them, by applying them to your progressions.

[sjonathan02]

Hello Everyone. 

How do you determine when to play extended chords?  Do you just sit and start w/a note, no matter what degree of the scale that you are on, and start with the root of that chord and keep building 3rds onto it until you get the desired sound that you are looking for?  (I hope I am making sense).

and....

If this is the case, is there a simple song that someone can recommend that has these chords in them so that I can practice hearing these sounds in every key?  (I really hope I am making sense).

Thank you all, in advance, for your help.

When do you play an extended chord? Whenever you want, practically.

Yes, it does depend on what type of sound you're looking for when your playing a song. As YOU said, just build the chord (you can use B3's suggestions) and then apply it to whatever progression you are playing.


As for a particular song, any and every song has some type of extended chord in it; so take a song that you already know and try applying some extended chords see what you come up with.


I hope that helps; be blessed.

[Daishadj]

This helps; thank you both for your responses. 

[KurzLand]

I never actually use 11ths or 13ths. I have to practice those more. Usually I use 7ths and 9ths.

[Daishadj]

I never actually use 11ths or 13ths. I have to practice those more. Usually I use 7ths and 9ths.

So do I.  For some reason, 11th and 13th chords seem to be more difficult for me.  I'm going to keep practicing them until I can play them as easily as I play 7th and 9th chords.

My biggest downfall is that I expect to sit at my piano and practice a few times and get it - just like that!  Then when I don't get it, I get discouraged.  (Weird, huh?) But, if I keep practicing and continue to pray for patience, I'll get it - one day....

[elio]

C-E-G-B / D-F#-A-D (a DMaj over a CMaj7 = CMaj13)
C-E-Bb / Eb-Ab-C (a AbMaj over a C7 = "C7 #9#13")

B3, I'd call them differently:
- I'd call the first chord a CMaj b5 13 (and I'd play as a dom7 with a Bb in the LH)
- I'd call the second chord a C7 #9 #5 (#13 doesn't look right to me, could be b13)
But I like that you did not put the G in the second LH chord, as it would somehow clash with the Ab...

[B3Wannabe]

B3, I'd call them differently:
- I'd call the first chord a CMaj b5 13 (and I'd play as a dom7 with a Bb in the LH)
- I'd call the second chord a C7 #9 #5 (#13 doesn't look right to me, could be b13)
But I like that you did not put the G in the second LH chord, as it would somehow clash with the Ab...

You're right! LOL

When I posted that it was about 530am here, and I hadn't slept yet. Thanks for correcting them!

...actually, I do add the G in there sometimes. It just depends on the situation, but most of the time, you're right, I leave it out, or I'll drop the E for the G.