A Lesson On Essential Passing Chord Types That Resolve To Major Chords
In this lesson, we’ll be learning some passing chord types that are succeeded by major chords in a chord progression. Here you are:
- The dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord
- The dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord
- The dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord
- The dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord
- The dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord
Let’s explore these chord types.
Dominant Thirteenth [Suspended Fourth] Chord
One of the passing chords that resolve to major chords is the dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord.
The C dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
…can be voiced using the Bb major seventh chord:
Playing the Bb major seventh chord:
…over C (on the bass):
…produces the C dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
“Analysis Of The Voicing…”
The dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord can be voiced by playing a major seventh chord a whole step below a given root note.
For example, the D dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord can be voiced by playing a major seventh chord that’s a whole step below the root (D):
….(which is the C major seventh chord):
The C major seventh chord:
…over D (on the bass):
…produces the D dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
“Application Of The Dominant Thirteenth [Suspended Fourth] Chord…”
The dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord resolves to a major chord that’s a fourth above (or fifth below) its root. For example, the C dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
…resolves to a major chord that’s a fourth above its root. A fourth above C:
…is F:
Consequently, the C dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
…resolves to any F major chord, which may include any of the following:
F major triad:
F major seventh:
F major ninth:
Every other dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord on the keyboard can be resolved following the procedure above.
“Check Out All The Dominant Thirteenth [Suspended Fourth] Chords On The Keyboard…”
C dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
Db dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
D dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
Eb dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
E dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
F dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
F# dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
G dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
Ab dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
A dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
Bb dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
B dominant thirteenth [suspended fourth] chord:
Dominant Seventh [Flat Ninth] Chord
The dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord is an amazing passing chord type that every serious pianist must know. Here’s a classic example: the C dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
In the key of C major:
…a ninth above C:
…is D:
…and that’s because from C to D:
…encompasses nine scale degrees.Lowering the ninth tone of the C dominant ninth chord:
The Eb dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord can be voiced by playing a diminished seventh chord that is a whole step below the root note (Eb):
Let’s say you want to form the A dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
…a ninth above C:
…is D:
…and that’s because from C to D:
…encompasses nine scale degrees.
Lowering the ninth tone of the C dominant ninth chord:
…which is D:
…by a half-step to Db:
…produces the C dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
“Analysis Of The Voicing…”
The dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord can be voiced by playing a diminished seventh chord a whole step below a given root note.
The Eb dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord can be voiced by playing a diminished seventh chord that is a whole step below the root note (Eb):
….(which is the C# diminished seventh chord):
The C# diminished seventh chord:
…over Eb (on the bass):
…produces the Eb dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
“Application Of The Dominant Seventh [Flat Ninth] Chord…”
The dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord can easily be applied as a passing chord to a major chord that is a fourth above (or a fifth below) its root.
The G dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
…can be applied as a passing chord to a major chord that’s a fourth above (or a fifth below) its root.
A fifth below G:
…is C:
Therefore, the G dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
…can be applied as a passing chord to C major chords like the C major triad:
…C major seventh chord:
…C major ninth chord:
…etc.
“Check Out All The Dominant Seventh [Flat Ninth] Chords On The Keyboard…”
C dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
Db dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
D dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
Eb dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
E dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
F dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
F# dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
G dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
Ab dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
A dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
Bb dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
B dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord:
Dominant Thirteenth [Flat Ninth] Chord
If you love the dominant seventh [flat ninth] chord, here’s another flat nine chord: the dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord.
The C dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
…is a classic example of the dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord, which is basically a dominant thirteenth chord with a flat ninth tone.
The eleventh tone of the dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord is usually omitted. In the case of the C dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
…its eleventh (which is F):
…is omitted.
“Analysis Of The Voicing…”
The dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord can be voiced by playing a diminished [major seventh chord] that is a whole step below a given root note.
Let’s say you want to form the A dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
…all you need to do is to go below the given root note (which is A):
…by a whole step (to G):
…and play the G diminished [major seventh chord]:
So, the G diminished [major seventh chord]:
…played over A on the bass:
…produces the A dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
“Application Of The Dominant Thirteenth [Flat Ninth] Chord…”
The application of the dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord is similar to that of the passing chords we covered earlier.
It resolves to a major chord that is a fourth above (or a fifth below) its root.
So the B dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
…resolves to a major chord that is a fifth below its root (which is B):
A fifth below B:
…is E:
Consequently, the B dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
…resolves to E major chords like the E major triad:
…E major seventh chord:
…E major ninth chord:
…etc.
“Check Out All The Dominant Thirteenth [Flat Ninth] Chords On The Keyboard…”
C dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
Db dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
D dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
Eb dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
E dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
F dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
F# dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
G dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
Ab dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
A dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
Bb dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
B dominant thirteenth [flat ninth] chord:
Dominant Thirteenth [Add Ninth] Chord
The dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord is another essential passing chord every serious pianist should know.
The C dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
…is a classic example of the dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord.
“Analysis Of The Voicing…”
The dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord can be voiced by playing a major seventh [flat fifth] that is a whole step below a given root note.
Let’s say you want to form the F dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord, all you need to do is to go below the given root note (which is F):
…by a whole step (to Eb):
…and play the Eb major seventh [flat fifth] chord:
So, the Eb major seventh [flat fifth] chord:
…played over F on the bass:
…produces the F dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
Any other dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord can be formed in the same manner.
“Application Of The Dominant Thirteenth [Add Ninth] Chord…”
The dominant thirteenth [add ninth] resolves to a major chord that is a fourth above (or a fifth below) its root. Therefore, the Ab dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
…resolves to a major chord that is a fifth below its root (which is Ab):
A fifth below Ab:
…is Db:
Consequently, the Ab dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
…resolves to Db major chords like the Db major triad:
…Db major seventh chord:
…Db major ninth chord:
…etc.
“Check Out All The Dominant Thirteenth [Add Ninth] Chords On The Keyboard…”
C dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
Db dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
D dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
Eb dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
E dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
F dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
F# dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
G dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
Ab dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
A dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
Bb dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
B dominant thirteenth [add ninth] chord:
Dominant Thirteenth [Sharp Eleventh] Chord
The last passing chord type we’re studying in this lesson is the dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord.
The C dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
…can be voiced using the Bb augmented major seventh chord:
Playing the Bb augmented major seventh chord:
…over C (on the bass):
…produces the C dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
“Analysis Of The Voicing…”
The dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord can be voiced by playing an augmented major seventh chord a whole step below a given root note.
For example, the Bb dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord can be voiced by playing an augmented major seventh chord that’s a whole step below the root (Bb):
….(which is the Ab augmented major seventh chord):
The Ab augmented major seventh chord:
…over Bb (on the bass):
…produces the Bb dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
“Application Of The Dominant Thirteenth [Sharp Eleventh] Chord…”
The dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord resolves to a major chord that’s a fourth above (or fifth below) its root. For example, the E dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
…resolves to a major chord that’s a fourth above its root. A fourth above E:
…is A:
Consequently, the E dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
…resolves to any A major chord, which may include any of the following:
A major triad:
A major seventh:
A major ninth:
Every other dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord on the keyboard can be resolved following the procedure above.
“Check Out All The Dominant Thirteenth [Sharp Eleventh] Chords On The Keyboard…”
C dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
Db dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
D dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
Eb dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
E dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
F dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
F# dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
G dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
Ab dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
A dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
Bb dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
B dominant thirteenth [sharp eleventh] chord:
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Chuku Onyemachi
Hello, I'm Chuku Onyemachi (aka - "Dr. Pokey") - a musicologist, pianist, author, clinician and Nigerian. I started teaching musicians in my neighbourhood in April 2005. Today, I'm humbled to work as a music consultant with HearandPlay Music Group for musicians in Africa and beyond.