Chromatic chord
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A chromatic chord is any musical chord that includes at least one note not belonging in the diatonic scale associated with the prevailing key. In other words, at least one note of the chord is chromatically altered. Any chord that is not chromatic is a diatonic chord.
For example, in the key of C major, the following chords (all diatonic) are among those that may be built on each degree of the scale:
- I: C maj7 [made up of the notes C-E-G-B]
- ii: D min7 [made up of the notes D-F-A-C]
- iii: E min7
- IV: F maj7
- V: G7
- vi: A min7
- vii: B min7♭5
However, a number of other chords may also be built on the degrees of the scale, and some of these are chromatic. Examples:
- IV: The Neapolitan sixth chord. For example: F-A♭-D♭ (lower the third and raise the fifth of the subdominant F-A-C).
- IV#: The Sharpened subdominant with diminished seventh chord. For example: F#-A-C-E♭.
- VI♭: The Augmented sixth chords.
