Piano Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard Syllabus

What is the formula for a half-diminished seventh chord, and how is Bø7 spelled?

A diminished triad plus a minor seventh: 1–♭3–♭5–♭7, also written m7♭5. Bø7 (Bm7♭5) = B–D–F–A.

What is the difference between a fully diminished seventh (°7) and a half-diminished seventh (ø7)?

They share the same diminished triad (1–♭3–♭5) but differ in the seventh: °7 has a diminished seventh, ø7 has a minor seventh — the top note of ø7 is a half step higher.

How many inversions does a seventh chord have, and which chord tone is in the bass for each?

Three inversions (four positions total): root position (root in bass), first inversion (3rd in bass), second inversion (5th in bass), third inversion (7th in bass).

What are the figured-bass symbols for a seventh chord in root position and each inversion?

Root position: 7; first inversion: $\frac{6}{5}$; second inversion: $\frac{4}{3}$; third inversion: $\frac{4}{2}$ (or 2).

How is third-inversion G7 spelled and written as a slash chord, and how does its bass typically resolve?

G7/F, with the seventh F in the bass (F–G–B–D). The bass F resolves down by step to E, giving a first-inversion C chord (C/E).

What chords make up the I–IV–V–I progression in C major, and what is each chord's function?

C (I, tonic) – F (IV, subdominant/predominant) – G (V, dominant) – C (I, tonic): home, departure, tension, resolution.

What keyboard voice-leading technique makes I–IV–V–I smooth, and what are the close-position shapes in C major?

Keep common tones and move each voice to the nearest chord tone using inversions: C (C–E–G) → F/C (C–F–A) → G7/B (B–F–G) → C (C–E–G). The hand barely moves.

What is a cadence, and which cadence does V(7)–I create?

A cadence is a harmonic formula that ends a phrase. V–I (or V7–I) is the authentic cadence, the strongest resolution to the tonic; IV–I is the plagal ('Amen') cadence.

What is the ii–V–I progression in C major using seventh chords?

Dm7 – G7 – Cmaj7: the supertonic minor seventh, the dominant seventh, then the tonic major seventh.

Why does the ii–V–I progression sound so smooth and directed?

Its roots descend by perfect fifths (D → G → C), and the seventh of each chord resolves down by step to the third of the next chord (C→B, F→E), creating continuous stepwise voice leading.

In which style is ii–V–I the most fundamental progression, and what is ii–V–i in a minor key (C minor)?

Jazz. In minor, ii–V–i uses a half-diminished ii: Dm7♭5 (Dø7) – G7 – Cm7.

Outline the chord for each bar of a basic 12-bar blues in C.

Bars 1–4: C7 (I); bars 5–6: F7 (IV); bars 7–8: C7 (I); bar 9: G7 (V); bar 10: F7 (IV); bars 11–12: C7 (I), often ending with G7 as a turnaround.

What chord quality is used on I, IV, and V in the blues, even though it breaks diatonic rules?

All three are played as dominant seventh chords (C7, F7, G7 in C) — the characteristic 'blue' sound of the style.

What is a turnaround in the 12-bar blues?

A chord (or short progression) in the final bar — typically V7 — that creates tension leading the music back to the I chord at the top of the next 12-bar chorus.

What is the 'axis' or 'four-chord' pop progression I–V–vi–IV in the key of C major?

C – G – Am – F. It underlies countless pop songs and can start on any of its four chords (e.g., vi–IV–I–V = Am–F–C–G).

What is the '50s' or 'doo-wop' progression, and what are its chords in C major?

I–vi–IV–V: C – Am – F – G (sometimes I–vi–ii–V with Dm replacing F).

In Roman numeral analysis of chord progressions, what do uppercase and lowercase numerals indicate?

Uppercase numerals (I, IV, V) indicate major chords; lowercase numerals (ii, vi) indicate minor chords; lowercase with ° (vii°) indicates diminished.

In chord-symbol notation, what do a plain letter, 'm', '7', and 'maj7' after a letter each mean?

A plain letter (C) = major triad; Cm = minor triad; C7 = dominant seventh (major triad + ♭7); Cmaj7 = major seventh chord (major triad + natural 7).

What does a 'sus4' chord symbol mean, and how is Csus4 spelled?

The third is replaced by the perfect fourth ('suspended'): Csus4 = C–F–G. It typically resolves the 4th down to the 3rd (F→E), giving C major.

What do the symbols ° and ø mean in chord symbols, and what are their spoken names?

° = diminished (C° triad or C°7 fully diminished seventh); ø = half-diminished seventh (Cø7 = Cm7♭5).

What notes are in a C6 chord?

A major triad plus a major sixth: C–E–G–A. (Cm6 = minor triad plus major sixth: C–E♭–G–A.)

What does a slash chord such as C/G tell the keyboard player?

Play the chord named before the slash (C major) with the note after the slash (G) as the lowest/bass note — usually root of the chord in the right hand, G alone in the left.

What notes are in a C9 chord, and what chord family does it belong to?

C9 = C–E–G–B♭–D: a dominant seventh chord (C7) with the ninth added. Any plain-number 9, 11, or 13 symbol implies the dominant ♭7 underneath.

What is the difference between Cadd9 and C9?

Cadd9 adds the ninth to the plain triad with no seventh (C–E–G–D); C9 includes the dominant seventh as well (C–E–G–B♭–D).

What are chord extensions, and how are they built?

Tones added beyond the seventh by continuing to stack thirds: the 9th, 11th, and 13th (compound versions of the 2nd, 4th, and 6th). Example: C13 implies 1–3–5–♭7–9–(11)–13.

What is a fake book (lead sheet), and what information does it give the player?

A collection of tunes notated as a single melody line with chord symbols above it (and lyrics). The player 'fakes' — improvises — a full arrangement from just melody and chords.

What is the standard division of hands when playing from a lead sheet at the piano?

Right hand plays the written melody; left hand plays the chords (as block chords, roots, or patterns). A fuller texture puts bass notes in the left hand and chords plus melody in the right.

What does 'block chords' mean as an accompaniment texture?

All notes of each chord are struck simultaneously as a solid unit (often once per beat or per chord change), as opposed to broken-chord textures where notes sound one at a time.

What is Alberti bass, and what is its note pattern for a C major chord?

A Classical-era left-hand broken-chord figure playing lowest–highest–middle–highest: C–G–E–G, repeated. Named after Domenico Alberti and common in Mozart and Haydn sonatas.

What is arpeggiated accompaniment, and how does it differ from Alberti bass?

The chord tones are played one after another, typically rolling upward (e.g., C–G–E over a wide range, as in ballads and Romantic style). Alberti bass is a specific fixed low–high–middle–high pattern in a narrow range, while arpeggiation flows freely across the keyboard.