A

David

Darling

chord tone

The chord tone is the pitches in a chord that determine its basic sound quality. Chord tones are the following:

 

  • Root, 3rd and 5th of a triad (major, minor, augmented or diminished).
  • Root, 4th and 5th of a triad (sus 4 triad).
  • Root, 3rd, 5th and 7th of seventh chords.
  • Root, 4th, 5th and flat 7th of a dominant 7th sus 4 chord.
  • Root, 3rd, 5th and 6th of a sixth chord (major, minor).