1

TL;DR: Does music theory have a name for all possible chord functions for every key chord combination possible (beyond the 7 diatonic functions, including those that seemingly make no sense)? If not how else would you classify chords (root + quality doesn't seem quite sufficient to me but if you think it's the best way to go let me know)

Background

So a few month ago I started working on this side-porject aiming to create a simple ear training tool that was really unique in that 99% of other tools that I found online used interval recognition or absolute pitch, while what I was looking for was a more "functional" method (if there is a more correct term please let me know) that requires you to identify the scale degree of the note rather than its distance from the previous one.

I preferred this method because it felt like the most natural to me (just my subjective opinion), and I made a lot of progress using it. And now I'm looking to add chord recognition to my app. However there's just one tiny problem: I'm not sure how to classify all chords (functionally - by their role in the key). With the 12 chromatic tones it was easy: it was either a tonic, supertonic, mediant... or easier yet: I, II, III... As for the offscale tones, I'd just add a b or # to the roman numeral.

With chords however, things get tricky when we want to classify all the chords with regard to a given key. The 7 diatonic chords, can simply classified by their root tone degree, but what about chords that don't quite fit into the scale? They could be anything (from a functional perspective), as secondary dominant from a related key, a minor chord played major just to tease the listener...

So in general there are 12 tones x 2 qualities (at least major or minor to keep things simple) that need some sort of function (at least one per chord) assigned to them that the user could rely on to answer.

While I know my fair share of theory, I am by no means an advanced musician in that regard. Does music theory have a name or explanation for every chord function possible in a given context? If not, I'm sure all of us tend to interpret an A major (or F minor or Bb minor...) played in a C major context the same way even if it's not a very common thing we hear in music.

Links (If you're interested):

  • the web application I'm working on is FreeEarTrainer.org. feel free to try it out and maybe tell a friend, but it's still not exactly polished. Check out the settings at the bottom. You can answer faster using the keyboard (Z, X, C, V...). Sadly it doesn't work on iPhone's Safari, and I didn't find time to fix it.

  • a similar application is "Functional Ear Trainer" which wasn't available on mobile or web when I first started my project, but now is (on Android at least, their website is miles.be).

UPDATE: hadn't had much time to polish up the tool (will occasionally experience bugs when you change keys, requires you to hit the reset button) nor add chord recognition functionality, but I did wrap it in an android app with the same name "FreeEarTrainer.org" for those who are curious to try. The site is also not compatible with Safari (tested With Firefox and Chrome).

Improve this question
8
  • Just to make sure I understand your question correctly: wouldn't e.g. "biii" be sufficient to refer to a minor chord on the lowered 3rd scale degree (in a major key)? So in the key of C major, "biii" would refer to Ebm, whereas bIII (capitals) would refer to Eb (major).
    – Matt L.
    Dec 25, 2016 at 16:36
  • Going to four note chords should include 3 lots of 7ths, 6ths and sus.
    – Tim
    Dec 25, 2016 at 18:12
  • @MattL. What I'm looking for here is more about whether music theory has a more precise naming to those non-diatonic chord functions. For the example you gave, is it correct to say that Ebm played in a C maj context a flat minor mediant? because that's what the "b", "m" and "E" symbols stand for. Or does music theory have a more correct name for this function. If there is no standard naming for these non-diatonic functions than I guess your suggestion is quite valid.
    – Anthony
    Dec 25, 2016 at 19:51
  • @Tim the way I hear 7th, 9th, 11ths, and sus chords, the added notes are more about decoration rather than completely altering the function of the chord. So if I were to add those in my ear training tool, I'd have an option to answer by function, then specify the decorations added to the chord. i.e I'd isolate them from the chord function. The dom7 chords are probably the single exception, as the 7th can really alter the perception of the chord, and making clearer that is is a dominant chord (potentially a secondary dominant).
    – Anthony
    Dec 25, 2016 at 19:57
  • @Matt. What if a certain chord was almost inevitably borrowed from a neighbouring key, isn't there a better way to name it? Secondary dominants have a special notation for example. Are there similar notations for other non diatonic functions?
    – Anthony
    Dec 25, 2016 at 20:06

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
3

The simplest way to describe nondiatonic chords in this way would be Degree+chord name. I.e. bIImaj7, #VIm7b5, etc. It should be fairly straightforward in all cases where users are able to identify the root note of the chord, and then the relation of that note to the root of the actual key. The number of inversions for full (no skipped notes) chords should be kept limited for everything above m9/maj9 because after that point inverting a chord essentially makes it a different chord (try inverting a full m13).

The only issue I see with this are chords with more than one possible name. For example a chord consisting of F#, C, E, B can be either considered F#m11b5 with no third, or a Cmaj7/F#, and at that point the function is really what you decide it to be in the context of a song. Since your app lacks said context, I would simply avoid such chords and stick to more normal chords ranging from triads to m13/maj13 +limited number of inversions.

Improve this answer
2
  • Additionally, make sure your app specifies key (root note + major/minor/any other mode) as degrees only make sense in that context. "E" or "F#" is not a key. Trying to discern degrees without the context of major/minor would force the user to "assume" major and use degrees in relation to the standard major scale, which is wrong for a number of reasons (but unfortunately fairly common).
    – MRQ.9
    Dec 26, 2016 at 16:43
  • Thanks for your suggestion. I may well adopt this method. Though I doubt I will include anything more than 7th chords. If I ever add 9th chords and beyond (as well as sus and aug...) I'll make sure an answer is considered correct based on the notes that form it and not the exact root + quality ( + inversion if any) intended by the generator.
    – Anthony
    Dec 27, 2016 at 4:45
3

There is absolutely a classification for all possible chord functions and root locations in a key. The concept you need to look up is “chord-scales”. What that means is that every chord in a key has an assumed scale attached even when not all the notes are played. The tensions (9,11,13) CAN alter the chord-scale—they are not just “decoration” but an integral part of a chord. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 are assumed for every chord in a key regardless of whether they are in the chord symbol. Even triads have assumed tensions.

These assumptions dictate the available notes you can play over the chord. Every note in the chord-scale is then classified as a chord tone (1,3,5,7), scale degree (S2,S4,S6), or tension (T9,T11,T13)

The way this works functionally is IVmaj7—assume “Lydian” (T9,T#11,T13). bIII7 (a.k.a SubV7/II)—assume “Lydian Dominant” (b7,T9,T#11,T13). V7/VI—assume “Mixolydian b9,#9,b13” (Tb9,T#9,S4,Tb13). VII-7b5—assume “Locrian” (Sb2,T11,Tb13). Etc... If you wrote -7b5(9), it would change the chord scale to “Locrian #2” and (Sb2) would become (T9)

This is called the “berklee method” of music theory. Berklee college of music was the first place to write out a precise chordal classification system back in the 40’s so it has become the industry standard for all modern music. There is also the Lydian Chromatic Concept and some others but they aren’t as common or as user friendly. You can find Berklee Harmony textbooks online and I would highly recommend picking one up!

Improve this answer
1
  • Thank you for the very useful answer. I wansn't aware of the Berklee method, I'll definitely look it up. And welcome to music SE :D
    – Anthony
    Jul 7, 2019 at 15:24

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.