Unravelling complex chords

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Some of the more complex chords are quite easy to remember if you think of them in terms of combinations of simpler chords.

What do I mean by that? Take a look at the ninth chord:

Its formula is 1 3 5 b7 9

So C9 would be made up of C E G Bb D

A simple way to work with a ninth chord is to think of it as a major chord:

C E G = C major - with a minor chord built on the end of it -
G Bb D = G minor

So by adding a G minor chord to a C major you get a C9 chord!

Here are some other similar ideas:

11th chords (1 3 5 b7 9 11) = major chord plus another major chord built on a note one tone lower than the root, for example: G11 = G B D F A C (G major plus F major)

13th chords (1 3 5 b7 9 13) = relative minor chord (minor chord built on a note 6 up from the root) plus a minor chord built on the fifth note of the key example: G13 = G B D F A E (E minor plus D minor)

See if you can think of some more!

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