Violin · Level 8 · Advanced
Altered dominant chords in F♯ major on Violin
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Altered dominants add a raised or lowered ninth to V7 for extra tension before resolving. The 7♯9 is also the famous "Hendrix chord".
G♯m7
Notes: G♯ · B · D♯ · F♯
C♯7♯9
Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B · D𝄪
F♯maj7
Notes: F♯ · A♯ · C♯ · E♯
C♯7b9
Notes: C♯ · E♯ · G♯ · B · D
HOW TO PRACTISE IT
Six steps to a clean loop.
- Play each chord as an arpeggio, one note at a time: G♯m7, C♯7♯9, F♯maj7 and C♯7b9. Press play on the card, then match each note.
- Stay in first position: use the open string where you can and keep the fingers close to the string.
- Set the tempo to 69 BPM and play the progression with one chord per bar. Compare the ♯9 and ♭9 versions back to back over the same ii and I.
- Play the chord tones one at a time, one note per beat, with a full, even bow on each.
- Raise the tempo to 92 BPM once you can play the loop three times without stopping.
- Record one take, listen back and check for the sharper bite of ♯9 and the darker pull of ♭9.
Listen for
Aim for the sharper bite of ♯9 and the darker pull of ♭9. A common mistake is resolving too early, before the tension registers.
Why it works
Altered ninths are a half step away from chord tones of I, so they resolve by the smallest possible step.
F♯ major has 6 sharps; its relative minor key is D♯ minor.
Questions
What are the chords in ii7–V7♯9–Imaj7 / ii7–V7♭9–Imaj7 in F♯ major?
In F♯ major the progression is G♯m7 | C♯7♯9 | F♯maj7 | F♯maj7 | G♯m7 | C♯7b9 | F♯maj7 | F♯maj7.
What is the key signature of F♯ major?
F♯ major has 6 sharps. Its relative minor is D♯ minor.
Is this lesson right for my level?
This is a level 8 lesson (advanced). If it feels too hard, start with “Dominant thirteenth chords”.
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