Extended chords

Extended chords are chords in which a seventh chord is extended with more notes, often constructed with stacked 3rds. For example, the major 7th can be extended with a 3rd which makes a major 9th.

Theory

Cmaj7, for example, includes the notes C, E, G, B, the Cm7 includes the notes C, Eb, G, Bb, and C7 includes the notes C, E, G, Bb. More notes can be added and construct new chords such as Cmaj9, Cm11 and C13.

Chords and intervals

Chords are built in intervals and the table below is an overview that illustrates this based on the chords with C as the root:

Intervals	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
C7	C		E		G		Bb
C9	C		E		G		Bb		D
C11	C		E		G		Bb		D		F
C13	C		E		G		Bb		D		F		A

It's easy to see how the chords are expanded and stacked with 3rds. Notice that the 7th interval is flattened.

Chord diagrams

The diagrams contain only a small selection, see chord overview of specific extended chord types:
9th chords (C9)
Minor 9th chords (Cm9)
Major 9th chords (Cmaj9)
11th chords (C11)
Minor 11th chords (Cm11)
13th chords (C13)
Minor 13th chords (Cm13)
Major 13th chords (Cmaj13)

Notes in minor chords

The note names and the numbers of notes in various dominant chords.

Numbers of notes

C7 4 notes
C9 5 notes
C11 6 notes
C13 7 notes

Notes in 7th chord

C7 C - E - G - Bb
C sharp 7 C# - F - G# - B
D7 D - F# - A - C
D sharp 7 D# - G - A# - C#
E7 E - G# - B - D
F7 F - A - C - Eb
F sharp 7 F# - A# - C# - E
G7 G - B - D - F
G sharp 7 G# - C - D# - F#
A7 A - C# - E - G
A sharp 7 A# - D - F - G#
B7 B - D# - F# - A
See diagrams

Notes in 9th chord

C9 C - E - G - Bb - D
D9 D - F# - A - C - E
E9 E - G# - B - D - F#
F9 F - A - C - Eb - G
G9 G - B - D - F - A
A9 A - C# - E - G - B
B9 B - D# - F# - A - C#
See diagrams

Notes in 11th chord

C11 C - E - G - Bb - D - F
D11 D - F# - A - C - E - G
E11 E - G# - B - D - F# - A
F11 F - A - C - Eb - G - Bb
G11 G - B - D - F - A - C
A11 A - C# - E - G - B - D
B11 B - D# - F# - A - C# - E
See diagrams

Notes in 13th chord

C13 C - E - G - Bb - D - F - A
D13 D - F# - A - C - E - G - B
E13 E - G# - B - D - F# - A - C#
F13 F - A - C - Eb - G - Bb - D
G13 G - B - D - F - A - C - E
A13 A - C# - E - G - B - D - F#
B13 B - D# - F# - A - C# - E - G#
See diagrams

Progressions

Extended chords can bring different characterictiscs to the music and are common in many styles and situtions. Here are some examples with progressions including various extended chord types:

Dmaj9 (XX0220) - Bm9 (X2022X) - Amaj9 (X02100)

Bm11 (777777) - Am11 (555555) - G6

Aadd9 - Em9 - Bm11 (X20230) - Asus4

Bm7 (7X777X) - E9 (X7677X) - Amaj13 (5X667X)

Emaj7/B (X22444) - A6/9 (X04420) - B11 (X21200)

Back to chord types