altered chord
C2 (Proficient)Technical (Music Theory)
Definition
Meaning
A chord in which one or more notes are chromatically changed from their natural diatonic positions, typically by raising or lowering by a semitone, to create tension, colour, or prepare for resolution.
In jazz harmony and advanced tonal music, an altered chord often refers specifically to a dominant seventh chord (V7) with both the fifth and ninth degrees flattened or sharpened, creating maximum tension and implying specific scales (e.g., altered scale, diminished whole-tone scale).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is inherently technical. In basic theory, it describes any chromatic modification of a chord. In advanced jazz theory, it becomes a specific term-of-art for a fully altered dominant chord.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Terminology is identical in UK and US musical academia. Pronunciation differences follow general UK/US patterns for the constituent words 'altered' and 'chord'.
Connotations
None beyond the musical context.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects within musical discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [dominant seventh] chord was [fully] altered.The composer [employed/used] an altered chord to [create tension/modulate].The [note] in the chord is [flattened/sharpened].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Academic
Common in musicology, theory analysis, and composition textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside musical discussion.
Technical
The primary context. Central to jazz harmony, Romantic and post-Romantic classical music, and film scoring.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The arranger suggested we alter the chord at bar 32 to add more colour.
- You can alter the dominant chord to heighten its sense of resolution.
American English
- The bandleader told the pianist to alter the chord on the bridge.
- Jazz musicians frequently alter dominant sevenths to fit the melodic line.
adverb
British English
- The harmony shifted almost imperceptibly, then altered chromatically.
- He played the progression straight at first, then more altered the second time.
American English
- The chord progression moves diatonically before going fully altered.
- Think of the scale as a mixolydian played more altered.
adjective
British English
- The altered chord created a wonderfully pungent dissonance.
- His solo navigated the altered changes with great fluency.
American English
- That's a classic altered chord voicing right there.
- The altered tones gave the progression a modern edge.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In this piece, the composer uses an altered chord to surprise the listener before returning to the main key.
- An altered chord contains at least one note that is not in the original scale.
- The harmonic tension in that passage is largely due to a series of ingeniously linked altered dominants.
- Aspiring jazz pianists must learn to voice altered chords fluently in their left hand.
- The pianist's reharmonisation featured a G7♭5♭9, a quintessential altered chord, resolving deceptively to F♯mi7♭5.
- Post-tonal theory often analyses altered chords as verticalisations of subset motives from a chromatic field.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a chord getting a 'makeover' – its notes are ALTERed from their normal outfits.
Conceptual Metaphor
TENSION IS DISTORTION / RESOLUTION IS RETURNING TO NORMAL. An altered chord is a 'bent' or 'stretched' version of a familiar shape that wants to snap back.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Прямой перевод "изменённый аккорд" точен, но может звучать излишне буквально. В профессиональном жаргоне часто используется англицизм "альтерированный аккорд".
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'altered' with 'extended' (e.g., C9 is extended, C7♭5♭9 is altered).
- Using the term for any dissonant chord, rather than specifically chromatically altered diatonic notes.
- Pronouncing 'altered' as 'altared' (like a church altar).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of an altered chord in functional harmony?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In strict theory, yes, any diatonic chord with a chromatically changed note is altered. However, in jazz parlance, 'altered chord' usually implies a specific, fully altered dominant seventh chord.
An altered chord modifies the notes of the expected chord in the key. A chord substitution replaces the expected chord with a completely different one (e.g., a tritone substitute). They can overlap: a tritone sub is often an altered chord of its own type.
Yes. While most common on dominant chords, you can have altered notes on any chord quality (e.g., a minor chord with a raised fifth). These are often called 'chromatic alterations' rather than the specific 'altered chord' of jazz.
Common choices include the altered scale (7th mode of melodic minor), the half-whole diminished scale, or the whole-tone scale, depending on the specific alterations and desired sound.