Upper Partial Chord Tones

Upper Partials or extensions are the 9th, 11th, and 13ths of a chord. The 9, 11 and 13 can be altered chord tones depending on chord type: examples b9, #9, #11, b13.

Example: Cmaj7 (1 3 5 7 of a C major scale is C E G B)

C Major Scale
C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	A
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13

The 8, 10 and 12 are not used as extensions or upper partials as they are fundamental chord tones and duplicate the 1, 3, and 5 of the chord.

C Major Chord Tones
C	E	G	B	D	F	A
1	3	5	7	9	11	13

From any voicing of a Cmaj7 chord. You can then use the upper partial as a passing tone or just add it to the Cmaj7 creating new Cmaj type chord.

Here are four voicings of Cmaj7 from A Guide to Advance Chords for Ukulele

• 0 0 0 2
• 4 4 3 3
• 5 7 7 7
• 9 11 8 10

The top note (string 1) of each chord is called a melody note.

• 0 0 0 2 - top note B
• 4 4 3 3 - top note C
• 5 7 7 7 - top note E
• 9 11 8 10 - top note G

The D F and A can be added to the four Cmaj7 voicings to make new chords. Making a Cmaj9, Cmaj11 (rare) and a Cmaj13 (rare).

Adding the 9th - D

• 0 0 0 2
• 0 0 0 4 Cmaj9

Adding the 11th - F

• 5 7 7 7
• 5 7 7 8 Cmaj11 very rare and typically for major chord types the 11 is an augmented 11 (#11): 5 7 7 9)

Adding the 13th - A

• 9 11 8 10
• 9 11 8 12 (Cmaj13, Another rare chord. Typically C6 is called for.
  • 0 0 0 0
  • 2 4 3 3
  • 5 7 5 7
  • 9 9 8 10

Basically add the note not in the original chord to create a new chord voicing.

This is the same principle used to harmonize any melody note. An example is to harmonize a D melody when a Cmaj7 chord is called for. A D melody note and a Cmaj7 chord creates a Cmaj9 chord. Find the Cmaj7 with a C as the highest note on the voicing and move the C note to D. For a modern sound play the voicing with E as the top note and lower the E to D for more contemporary sounding chord.

This principle can be applied to melody note, not just notes from the scale that the chord came from. Just find the closed chord voicing to the melody note and raise or lower the chord tone on that string to get the melody note.

A little theory or a lot of theory depending on where one is in their development goes a long way.

One of the most influential musicians in my development says "Tools not rules". Learn the principles behind music and it is a liberating experience.

For complete study of 4-part chord voicings and how to create them, (Blatant self promo coming), see my Advanced Chord Series of books for Guitar and Ukulele:

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Guitar

Ukulele