Music Composition DUMmIES

Ninth.....................................................................................................

Ninth chords are “energetic, lively.”

To build a ninth chord using half and whole steps, remember: root + 4 half

steps + 3 half steps + 6 half steps. To build a minor ninth (see Figure 10-9), it’s

root + 3 half steps + 4 half steps + 6 half steps.

Minor ninth .........................................................................................

Minor ninth chords are “sad, tender, complex.”

To build a minor ninth chord using half and whole steps, remember: root

position + 3 half steps + 4 half steps + 6 half steps (Figure 10-10).

&4

4 w

w

w

w

C 9

Figure 10-9:

C ninth.

Ninth

chords are

made from

the 1, 3, 5,

and 9 tones

of the major

scale.

&4

4

ww

w

Csus4

Figure 10-8:
C suspended
fourth.
Suspended
fourth
chords are
made from
the 1, 4, and
5 notes of
the major
scale.

Chapter 10: Composing with Chords 107