Gb add9 Piano Chord

Piano Diagram of Gb add9 in Root Position

To form a Gb add9 chord, you simply include a 9th note (Ab) to a Gb Major chord (Gb, Bb, Db). Such chords are referred to as added tone chords as they involve the addition of supplementary intervals to a triad. The Gb add9 chord is distinct from the Gb9 chord because it doesn’t have a 7th, whereas the Gb9 chord includes the 7th note. Continue reading to discover additional information about the fundamentals of added tone chords and their applications in music.

 

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Extended chords can be difficult to play in their entirety on the piano due to the large number of notes involved or the distance between intervals like in this case. To simplify these chords, pianists often omit certain notes (usually the Root or the fifth) or split the chord between both hands. However, even with these simplifications, extended chords can create complex and dense harmonies, making voicing a challenging task.

 

Gb add9  Chord Inversions

Gb add9 chord has a total of 3 inversions:

Piano Keyboard Diagrams

 

Chord Inversions on Piano

Chord inversions are a crucial concept in music theory as they allow for a greater understanding of how chords are constructed and how they can be used in progressions.

However, it’s important to note that the diagrams depicting the sequence of notes in a chord inversion on a piano keyboard may not always translate to practical playing.

This is because proper chord voicings involve distributing the notes of the chord across different octaves and positions on the keyboard, which may differ from the basic shape of the chord’s inversions.

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Music Theory and Harmony of Gb Add9

 

Building the Gb add9 Chord: Different Approaches

Starting from the Gb Major Scale:

To build an Add 9 chord, begin by using the Major scale as a reference and selecting the Root, 3rd, 5th, and 9th notes.

 

 

 

Here are the steps to get the Gb add9 chord using the formula R, 3, 5, 9:

1. Begin with the Root note, which is Gb.
2. Add the 3rd note, which is Bb.
3. Include the 5th note, which is Db.
4. Finally, add the 9th note, which is Ab.

 

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by Combining Intervals:

Another approach to building an Add 9 chord involves combining particular intervals, such as a major 3rd, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th.

3 + m3 + 5 = add9 chords

For example, to create a Gb add9 chord, you can layer

• Gb-Bb (a major 3rd),
• Bb-Db (a minor 3rd),
• and Db-Ab (a perfect 5th) on top of each other.

 

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How to Use Gb add9 in a Chord Progression

 

In music theory, the concept of harmonic function refers to the role a chord plays in a musical composition. A stable harmonic function is associated with a chord that provides a sense of rest or resolution, while a dominant harmonic function creates a sense of tension or instability that often leads to a resolution to a stable chord.

The harmonic function of a Gb add9 chord is not fixed and can vary based on the surrounding harmonic context and the musical composition. For instance, when a Gb add9 chord follows a dominant chord like Db7, it functions as a stable chord that resolves the preceding tension.

However, in other situations, such as in a chord progression in the key of Cb major, the Gb add9 chord can serve as a dominant chord.

It is helpful to explore which scales and degrees include a Gb Maj7 or Gb7 chord, which can potentially be substituted with a Gb add9 chord.

on Major Scales

• Tonic chord in Gb Major
• Subdominant chord in Db Major
• Dominant chord in B Major as F# add9

on Natural minor Scales

• Mediant chord in Eb minor
• Submediant chord in Bb minor
• Leading tone chord in Ab minor

 

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Gb add9 Chord Function in Major and Minor Keys

Understanding Scale Degrees

When harmonizing a scale, you create chords using the notes from that scale. Each note in the scale is assigned a degree, reflecting its position in the scale. In the diatonic major scale, the degrees are as follows:

1. Tonic: This is the first degree of the scale and provides a stable tonal center. It’s often referred to as the “home base” of the music.
2. Supertonic: This is the second degree of the scale and is frequently used as a passing note between the tonic and other scale degrees.
3. Mediant: This is the third degree of the scale and helps to establish whether the scale is major or minor. It’s located halfway between the tonic and dominant notes.
4. Subdominant: This is the fourth degree of the scale and is often used as a complementary harmony to the dominant.
5. Dominant: This is the fifth degree of the scale and generates tension and a sense of expectation. It’s typically resolved by returning to the tonic.
6. Submediant: This is the sixth degree of the scale and is often utilized as a transition between the dominant and tonic.
7. Leading tone: This is the seventh degree of the scale and is located one half-step below the tonic. It produces a strong sense of tension and a desire to resolve to the tonic.

Understanding the scale degrees is important for creating chords and understanding how they relate harmonically to each other.

 

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Gb add9 in Gb Major

You can use a Gb add9 chord as a substitution for the Gb major or Gb major 7th chord, which is the first chord in the harmonized Gb major scale.

In a major key, the first chord (I chord) built on the first degree of the major scale serves as the tonic chord, creating the harmonic center of the chord progression.

 

Gb add9 Chord Progressions as I degree

Incorporating an add9 chord in your music can add an element of intrigue and variation. It can be used as a substitute for a traditional major chord or as a modulation towards a more stable Gb Major chord. For instance, try using the Gb add9 chord as the first chord in a progression and see how it affects the overall sound.

ii V I

 

I IV V

 

 I V vi IV

 

I IV vi V

 

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Gb add9 in Db Major

You can also use the Gb add9 chord as a substitute for the Gb major 7th chord when it appears on the fourth degree of the Db major scale. This substitution can be employed in the I-IV-V chord progression, with the add9 chord on the fourth degree acting as a transitional chord between the first and fifth degrees.

 

Gb add9 as IV degree – Chord Progressions

Try experimenting with chord progressions that use a Gb add9 chord instead of the typical Gb Maj7 chord on the fourth degree in the Db major scale. This substitution can add some variety and interest to the common I-IV-V progression, where the add9 chord can act as a transitional chord between the first and fifth degrees.

I IV V

 

I V vi IV

 

I IV vi V

 

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Gb add9 in Cb Major

Check F# add9 in B Major

 

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Gb add9 in Eb minor

In the key of Eb minor, you can use the Gb add9 chord as a substitution for the Gb Maj7 chord, which serves as the third degree in the scale.

 

Gb add9 as III degree – Chord Progressions

The following chord progressions showcase how the Gb add9 chord can be used as a variation of the mediant (III degree) chord.

i III