Voicing concepts with triads

Question 1

What is an upper structure voicing?

Answer 1

A 3 or 4 part interior chord which is built from one of the root chord tones (eg the 3rd, 5th or 7th).

Question 2

What are the three most common “interior resolutions” used within major and minor triads?

Answer 2

1. The 2 (or 9) moving to the 1
2. The 2 (or 9) moving to the 3
3. The 4th moving to the 3rd

Question 3

What does it mean to ‘upgrade’ a chord?

Answer 3

To add notes to the chord, for example the 9, 11 or 13.

Question 4

Triad over root voicing for: major chord

Answer 4

Major triad from the root.

Question 5

Triad over root voicing for: major seventh chord

Answer 5

Minor triad from the 3rd

Question 6

Triad over root voicing for: major ninth chord (with the 3 removed)

Answer 6

Major triad from the 5th.

Question 7

Upper structure voicing for: major six-nine chord with sharp 11th

Answer 7

Major triad from the 9th

Question 8

Triad over root voicing for: dominant 7th chord

Answer 8

Diminished triad from the 3rd

Question 9

Triad over root voicing for: dominant 13th chord

Answer 9

Minor triad from the 13th (6th)

Question 10

Triad over root voicing for: suspended dominant ninth (dominant 11th)

Answer 10

Major triad from the 7th