The 7(with line through it) symbolizes that it is a major 7th, if you dont have the line through it the 7th chord is a dominant chord constructed from the Mixolydian mode. If I don't say (line thru) then it is dominant unless otherwise specified. The - symbolizes minor of course and I can't make some of the symbols like a 6 above a 9 in a time signature except not for the same purpose so please just bear with me. The things in parentheses are really just an awkward way of writing something that I am not sure of how to write on the computer. The line through the seven is horizontal, like the one some people use to clarify their 1's from their 7's.
Chord tensions add extra color and texture to each chord they make them sound a little well. . . different. For 9th chords if it says erm, Cadd9 then it is the C major triad(C-E-G) with the ninth step(D one octave up) added to the triad. For a C9 chord the 9th step is added to a dominant 7th chord.
For 13th and 6th well they are the same note(in the major scale). the chord is labeled C6 when the 6th step of the major scale has been added to a major triad. example: C-E-G-A.
A chord is labeled C13 when the 13th step of the major scale has been added to a dominant 7th chord. example: C-E-G-Bb-A
Suspension, by definition, means to create dissonance by holding one or more tones in a chord while others move on. In practical use it carries a different meaning it usually meants the 3rd step has been replaced by the 4th step. But a sus2 and sus11 means that those intervals have been added to the chord. In the case of the sus2, the 2nd step usually replaces the 3rd step.
Triads Steps of major scale Chord symbol
Major chord..............I- III- V............................A
minor chord..............I- bIII- V ..........................A-
Augmented chord......I- III- #V..........................A+
Diminished chord.......I- bIII- bV.........................A(temperature symbol)
Suspended chord......I- IV- V............................Asus
Major chord with tension
Major 6th chord.........I- III- V- VI.....................A6
Major 7th chord.........I- III- V- VII ...................A7(with line through 7)
Major add 9 chord......I- III- V- IX.....................Aadd9
Major (six above nine) chord...I- III- V- VI- IX......A (six above nine)
Major 7th add 6 chord...I- III- V- VI- VII............A7(with line through it)add6
Major 7th add 9 chord...I- III- V- VII- IX...........A7(with line through it)add9
Minor chord with tension
Minor 6th chord.............I-bIII- V- VI....................A-6
Minor Major 7th chord.....I-bIII- V- VII...................A-7(with line through it)
Minor Add 9 chord..........I-bIII- V- IX....................A-add9
Minor (6 above 9) chord...I-bIII- V- VI- IX.............A-(6 above 9)
Minor Major 7th add 6 chord...I-bIII- V- VI- VII.......A-7(line thru)add6
Minor Major 7th add 9 chord...I-bIII- V- VII- IX.......A-7(line thru)add9
Minor Major 7th (6 above 9) chord...I-bIII-V-VI-VII-IX..A-7(line thru)(6over9)
Diminished chord.............I-bIII-bV-bbVII...............A(temperature symbol)
Dominant 7th chord.........I- III- V- bVII.................A7
Dominant 7th chord with tension
Suspended Dominant 7 chord......I-IV-V-bVII.........A7sus
9 Chord.................................I-III-V-bVII-IX......A9
13 Chord...............................I-III-V-bVII-XIII.....A13
7 Add 11 chord.......................I-III-V-bVII-XI.......A7(11)
Minor 7th chord......................I-bIII-V-bVII..........A-7
Minor 9th chord......................I-bIII-V-bVII-IX......A-9
7(#9) chord...........................I-III-V-bVII-#IX......A7(#9)
7(b9) chord............................I-III-V-bVII-bIX......A7(b9)
7(#5) chord or augmented chord..I-III-#V-bVII........A7+
13 Add 9 chord.......................I-III-V-bVII-IX-XIII...A13(add9)
13(b9) chord........................I-III-V-bVII-bIX-XIII....A13(b9)
13(#9) chord........................I-III-V-bVII-#IX-XIII....A13(#9)
13(b5) chord........................I-III-bV-bVII-XIII.........A13(b5)
13(b5 over b9) chord.............I-III-bV-bVII-bIX-XIII....A13(b5 over b9)
13 sus 11 chord....................I-V-bVII-XI-XIII...........A13sus11
Minor 7(b5) chord..................I-bIII-bV-bVII..............A-7(b5)
Minor 7(b9) chord..................I-bIII-V-bVII-bIX..........A-7(b9)
Minor 9(#5) chord..................I-bIII-#V-bVII-IX.........A-9(#5)
Minor 7th(b9 over #5).............I-bIII-#V-bVII-bIX.......A-7(b9 over #5)
I think all of this is correct I made notes and typed this up from my notes trying to bring up as much as I could. Anyways, These are most of the ones that I use but I tend to do my own little "chords." I take certain degrees from whatever scale I'm working in such as diminished, dominant diminished, whole tone, whatever major/minor mode, or that 6 tone symmetrical(not whole tone), the formula is like, I-bII-III-IV-#V-VI. I just use the degrees of whatever scale I'm working in generally(especially when improving) but if its prepared then I generally do as powers said, use the V7 of II or the V7 of V7 or yeah so on and so forth. Yeah, okay you can find that stuff online that
www.activebass.com site that one guy posted is kind of okay. Anyways, tell me what you think as always and I'm going to make an extra post for a word of thanks.
