Lesson Goal: To quickly internalize the major and minor Add2 Chords in all spellings… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…
Table of Contents
Major Add2 Chords
Special Note: Major Add2 Chords are presented here as a suspension that resolves to a major triad, but Add2 Chords can be used in their own right as colorful alternative to a major triad without the need to resolve.
C Major Add2 Chord Resolved to C Major Triad
This progression emphasizes the harmonically active 2, “suspending” it before resolving to the harmonically stable 1…
This suspension sounds and feels particularly “sweet” because of the close major 2nd interval (D-E).
Notice how unstable and antsy the rootless add2 chord sounds and feels, like it needs to go somewhere, and how that instability is relieved upon the arrival of the major triad.
Suspensions can be applied to add harmonic interest in many musical contexts, for example in “Close to You” (The Carpenters)…
[insert audio]
Major Add2 Chord Resolved to Major Triad, All Keys
Lesson Goal: To build confidence reading, thinking about, seeing, hearing, and playing major add2 chords and their major triad resolutions in the big 12 major spellings… arranged arranged chromatically ascending…
Listen to a sample at 120 beats per minute…
Major Add2 Chord Resolved to Major Triad Practice Tracks, All Keys (MP3s)
Of the score above with a two bar count off at 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, & 180 beats per minutes…,
Playing along at a variety of tempos–from very slow to very fast–is a highly effective way to discover and tighten up every loose screw in your thinking, technique, and rhythm!
Minor Add2 Chord Resolved to Minor Triad
Special Note: Minor Add2 Chords are presented here as a suspension that resolves to a minor triad, but Add2 Chords can be used in their own right as colorful alternative to a major triad without the need to resolve.
C Minor Add2 Chord Resolved to C Minor Triad
This suspension emphasizes the harmonically active 2, “suspending” it before resolving to the harmonically stable 1…
This suspension sounds and feels particularly “bittersweet” because of the close minor 2nd interval (D-Eb).
Notice how unstable and antsy the rootless add2 chord sounds and feels, like it needs to go somewhere, and how that instability is relieved upon the arrival of the minor triad.
The most recognizable example of add2 chords may be Nadia’s Theme, which is based on a sequence of rootless add2 suspensions played on a Cm-Bb-Ab-Gm chord progression.
Minor Add2 Chord Resolved to Minor Triad Practice, All Keys
Lesson Goal: To build confidence reading, thinking about, seeing, hearing, and playing minor add2 chords and their minor triad resolutions in the big 12 major spellings… arranged arranged chromatically ascending…
Listen to a sample at 120 beats per minute…
Minor Add2 Chord Resolved to Minor Triad Practice, All Keys (MP3s)
Of the score above with a two bar count off at 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, & 180 beats per minutes…
Playing along at a variety of tempos–from very slow to very fast–is a highly effective way to discover and tighten up every loose screw in your thinking, technique, and rhythm!
learn more… Chords & Chord Progressions
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