Examples
Example 1: Below, a common voicing used by jazz pianists is given for the chord C7♯9 (C major chord with a flat 7th, and extended with a sharpened 9th).
In the lower-stave the notes E♮ and B♭ are given. These form a tritone which defines the dominant sound, and are the major 3rd and flattened 7th of the C7♯9 chord.
In the upper-stave the notes E♭ (enharmonically equivalent to D♯), G, and B♭ are given together: these form an E♭ major triad.
This E♭ major triad is what would be called the upper structure. Considered in relation to the root C, the notes of this E♭ major triad function, respectively, as the sharpened ninth, fifth, and seventh in relation to that root.
(Note: the root C is omitted here, and is often done so by jazz pianists for ease of playing, or because a bass player is present.)
Example 2: The following example illustrates the notes of an F♯ minor triad functioning as part of a C13♭9♯11 chord (C major chord with a flat 7th, flatted ninth, sharpened 11th, and 13th):
In relation to the root of C, the C♯ (enharmonic with D♭) functions as a flattened ninth, the F-sharp functions as a sharpened eleventh, and the A functions as the thirteenth.
Read more about this topic: Upper Structure
Famous quotes containing the word examples:
“Histories are more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends.”
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744)
“In the examples that I here bring in of what I have [read], heard, done or said, I have refrained from daring to alter even the smallest and most indifferent circumstances. My conscience falsifies not an iota; for my knowledge I cannot answer.”
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)
“It is hardly to be believed how spiritual reflections when mixed with a little physics can hold people’s attention and give them a livelier idea of God than do the often ill-applied examples of his wrath.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)