Cool Chord #4 - Dominant 7th Flat 9 Sharp 5 - 7b9#5

[DaNatiMaestro]

I'll sleep one of these days..

the Dominant 7th Flat 9 Sharp 5 chord.

This is a great chord that you can use immediately.

Currently I use this chord as a passing chord to get me to any minor chord in a progression.  This is an altered chord because we've altered the 9 by flatting it and the 5 by sharping it.

Let's look at this chord:

A7b9#5 LH/RH = A/GBbC#F

Chord breakdown wise: in the LH you have the Root, in the RH you have the b7, b9 (Bb), 3, #5 (E# or F)

How would you use this chord?

As I stated before you can use this chord in any progression to pass to a minor chord.

in the Key of F a ii-vi (2-6) progression would be:
LH/RH     NUMBER BREAKDOWN    Chord Name
G/FABbD    1/7-9-3-5                Gm9
D/FACE     1/3-5-7-9                 Dm9

This is the progression that is used during the play over for Byron Cage's I will Bless The Lord of course that song is in Gb for this post's purpose I put us in the key of F but you can transpose these chords to what ever key you'd like.

Here is that same 2-6 progression with the 7b9#5 passing chords in there..

Before I give you that..

A short note here on passing chords: Alot of folks have been asking about passing chords and how to add them to your progressions.  One good rule of thumb to use/know is that you can always precede a chord in a progression with a dominant 7th chord that is a 5th away from it. For example...

Orig. Progression: Bbm7 to Fm7

you can add a C7 chord before the F minor chord because it is a 5th away
F major scale = F G A Bb C(5) D E F, the C is a 5th away..

Progression w/ Passing Chord: Bbm7 to C7 to Fm7

Let's try that again:

Orig. Progression: Cm7 to Gm7

using the rule that I gave you what would be the passing chord to add between the Cm7 and Gm7???  D7
G major scale = G A B C D(5) E F# G, the D is a 5th away..

Progression w/ Passing Chord: Cm7 to D7 to Gm7

We're going to apply this same Passing Chord rule to the 2-6 progression in the key of F but instead of just adding a regular dominant 7th chord we're going to add the dominant 7th b9 #5 chord

For reference, original progression is going: Gm9 to Dm9

2-6 Progression w/ Passing Chords:
LH/RH    NUMBER BREAKDOWN    Chord Name
G/FABbD   1/7-9-3-5               Gm9
A/GBbC#F  1/7-b9-3-#5          A7b9#5    <- Passing Chord
D/FACE     1/3-5-7-9              Dm9
D/F#BbCEb   1/3-#5-7-b9        D7b9#5     <- Passing Chord

Do you understand why we added those passing chord?
Why did we play the A7b9#5 before the Dm9?
Why did we play the D7b9#5 before the Gm9?

If you can answer those questions you are well on your way to learning how to add passing chords to your progressions.

Here is the 7b9#5 chord in every key around the circle of 4th/5th...

C7b9#5     C/BbDbEAb
F7b9#5     F/ADbEbGb
Bb7b9#5   Bb/AbBDF#
Eb7b9#5   Eb/GBC#E
Ab7b9#5   Ab/GbACE
Db7b9#5   Db/FABD
Gb7b9#5   Gb/EGBbD
B7b9#5     B/ACEbG
E7b9#5     E/AbCDF
A7b9#5     A/GBbC#F
D7b9#5     D/F#BbCEb
G7b9#5     G/FAbBEb

Another tool to add to your toolbelt!

So now when your going through songs and your coming across some minor chords, try to add this passing chord.  It will really add some spice to your playing!!

Any questions or comments post them!!

[T-Block]

I just got one question, why do you have that b9 in there?  When I play that chord with the b9, it sounds like a m7 b5, or a half-diminished chord, but you need the G to be the root:

G / G-Bb-C#-F 

I think it sounds better if you left it out, but that's just me:

A7 #5 = A / G-C#-F

So, using it in your 2-6 progression as a passing chord, you have this:

G / F-A-Bb-D (Gm9)
A / G-C#-F (A7 #5)
D / F-A-C-E (Dm9)

I use it all the time in this form.  Your chord is cool too, but I use it as a 2.

[sjonathan02]

I just got one question, why do you have that b9 in there?  When I play that chord with the b9, it sounds like a m7 b5, or a half-diminished chord, but you need the G to be the root:

G / G-Bb-C#-F 

I think it sounds better if you left it out, but that's just me:

A7 #5 = A / G-C#-F

So, using it in your 2-6 progression as a passing chord, you have this:

G / F-A-Bb-D (Gm9)
A / G-C#-F (A7 #5)
D / F-A-C-E (Dm9)

I use it all the time in this form.  Your chord is cool too, but I use it as a 2.

I'm not DaNati, but I'd say to create tension or make your sound fuller. BTJM.

[DaNatiMaestro]

I'm not DaNati, but I'd say to create tension or make your sound fuller. BTJM.

Sjon.. has hit the nail right on the head! I actually couldn't have said that better myself!! :-)

T-Block I played that chord the way you described it for my jazz teacher and he said you must play the organ alot.  I asked him why.. he said that on the organ you want to go for more open chords with less notes to keep it from being muddy but your on the piano. It's ok to add the extensions and alterations to the chord.

In jazz, the piano players job is to lay the harmonic foundation for the horns, sax, bass pretty much everyone else.  Its up to the piano player to know how to color these chords and keep them interesting.

Nothing wrong with your chord at all T-Block or how you used it.  I guess I just decided to add a little more color and interest by adding that Bb (b9).

I'm glad these posts are sparking HEALTHY musical conversation and expanding folks musical thoughts!!

Keep them coming guys!!

[chevonee]

You've already answered any question that I had DaNati...LOL Man you have such cool, full sounding chords. I really appreciate every post that you have because of the wealth of information. There isn't much room for confusion. Thank you so much and keep em comin. I'm about to try this out now, I have to say that your previous posts are making me look like a professional when I play. Lol

[T-Block]

T-Block I played that chord the way you described it for my jazz teacher and he said you must play the organ alot.  I asked him why.. he said that on the organ you want to go for more open chords with less notes to keep it from being muddy

Honestly man, I've never played an organ in my life.  It's just this chord sounds so weird to me wit that b9 in it cuz it reminds me of that half-diminished chord.  Maybe once my brain stop taking over I'll get used to it one day, LOL.

[musallio]

Yet another great post
Thanx DNat & Co..

[Rjthakid]

NICE.

Man, this Jazz room has taken off. Nice stuff.