Inquiry-Based Music Theory OER Text Book

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Examples 3c - Leadsheet Notation

Using the examples below:

  • determine the standard methods for labeling all chord qualities
    • match these to our current labels (e.g. Major minor (Mm) chords are the same as a dominant seventh chord which is then labeled as…)
  • determine the method for denoting inversions
    • match these inversions to their corresponding inversion figures for both triads and seventh chords
  • figure out the difference between using sub and add in your leadsheet notation

Labeling triads

Created with Raphaël 2.1.2Leadsheet notation of triadsB♭+ (or B♭aug)B♭B♭min (or B♭-)B♭dim (or B♭o)
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Labeling seventh chords

Created with Raphaël 2.1.2Leadsheet notation of seventh chordsEverything other than the chord's root is typically written in superscript---------------major seventh Dmaj7dominant seventh D7minor seventh Dm7 (or Dmin7)half diminished D/o7 or Dm7(b5)fully diminished Do7(or Ddim7)
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Labeling inversions

Created with Raphaël 2.1.2---------------root position 7 (7/5/3) D7first inversion 6/5 (6/5/3) D7/F♯second inversion 4/3 (6/4/3) D7/Athird inversion 4/2 (6/4/2) D7/C
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Music Line:1:3: Unknown bar symbol: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:3: Unknown bar type: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:4: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:5: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:8: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:9: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:10: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:11: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:12: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:13: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:15: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:16: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:18: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:22: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:23: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:26: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:28: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:29: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:30: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:32: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:33: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:34: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation
Music Line:1:35: Unknown character ignored: TT:Inversions in leadsheet notation

Extensions and Using Sub vs. Add

Created with Raphaël 2.1.2Labeling extensions in leadsheet notation---------------D13D6/9implied Dsus7D9 or D7(add9)Dm7(add b5)Dm7(sub b5)
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