1. Home
  2. Blog - Jazz Guitar Lessons
  3. Chords
  4. 25 Altered Dominant Guitar Chords

25 Altered Guitar Chords - Theory and Diagrams

25 Altered Dominant Guitar Chords

Stef Ramin By 1

Altered dominant chords are used to bring tension and an outside flavor to jazz chord progressions. 

They generally resolve to an inside chord as the I or a substitute as iii or vi.

They have one or more notes lowered or raised by a half-step, in other words they contain one or more alterations.

These alterations are b9,#9, b5 (#11) and b13 (#5).

Altered Chords are generally used by jazz musicians, composers and arrangers as substitutions for diatonic chords for adding dissonance and spicing up the harmony.

Altering The Fifth

In jazz music, alterations are used for all types of chords however, they are most often applied to dominant chords.

Let's start with the fifth of V7, that can be altered with a sharp (#) or a flat (b). So we can get two altered chords named 7b5 or 7#5.

Please note that the b5 and the #11 are the same notes, they are enharmonic like the #5 and the b13 that are enharmonic too, so there are two other possibilities, 7#5 and 7b13.

However, it is better to use the b5 and #5 extensions as shown in the shapes below.

Dominant Flat Five Drop 2 And Drop 3 Voicings

Here are four guitar neck diagrams to play 7b5 chords.

Dominant Sharp Five Drop 2 And Drop 3 Voicings

These four diagrams take the same voicings as above, but with an augmented fifth. Please note that 7#5 chords can be written 7aug or 7+5 or aug7.

Altering The Ninth

The ninth of a dominant chord can be lowered or raised by a half-step, thus giving two altered dominant chords : 7b9 and 7#9.

Here are eight guitar diagrams to play altered dominant chords.

Notice that there are two rootless chord voicings, meaning that the root tone is not play but simply represented by a red circle.

Dominant 7 Flat Ninth Chords

The b9 is generally used to alter the dominant 7 chord of a minor II-V-I chord progression giving a iim7 - V7b9 - Im(maj7) sequence.

Dominant 7 Sharp Ninth Chords

Now the same voicings but with a #9 instead of a b9. Please note that 7#9 chords are dominant chords with a major ninth.

One or More Alterations

Altered dominant chords can contain one or more alterations, the choice depends on the melody.

They are most of the time simplified and written "ALT", for example G7#5b13 can be written G7alt.

It means that the altered notes are not specified, you can decide which alteration you add to the dominant 7 chord.

Here are some chord shapes that will help you to hear some of these altered chords.

6 tritone substitution licks carre

6 Tritone Substitution Jazz Guitar Licks - Free PDF Method

This Printable PDF eBook available for free download contains 6 easy jazz guitar licks with tabs/notation, youtube video link and analysis about the tritone substitution.
25 diminished patterns carre min

25 Diminished Jazz Guitar Patterns | eBook PDF with Audio Files

This eBook PDF with audio files contains 25 dominant diminished jazz guitar patterns using the half-whole diminished scale and diminished 7th arpeggios.
Soul jazz guitar licks pdf

25 Soul Jazz Licks For Guitar | Printable PDF Method With Tabs, Analysis And Audio files

You will find here an eBook available in PDF containing 25 soul jazz and hard bop guitar licks in the style of Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, George Benson.
40 blues jazz carre

40 Blues Licks For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method With Audio Files

This printable method is available as a PDF file containing 40 easy dominant jazz-blues guitar lines with tabs, standard notation, analysis, audio files and scale charts.
Altered licks carre

25 Altered Jazz Guitar Licks - eBook PDF Method With Audio Files

This PDF eBook method contains 25 altered jazz guitar licks with tabs, patterns, scale charts and audio files to master, apply and develop the altered scale.
11 jazz blues comping studies for guitar carre

11 Jazz Blues Chord Studies For Guitar | PDF Method With Audio Files

11 jazz blues chord studies with tabs, standard notation, analysis, and audio recordings and PDF.
50 ii v i chord voicings for jazz guitar carre

Major 2-5-1 Chord Voicings - 50 Exercises For Jazz Guitar - PDF eBook Method With Audio

This printable PDF guitar method provides 50 exercises with audio files, analysis, tab and staves for learning major 2-5-1 chord voicings.
Pentatonic scales for guitar pdf

25 Pentatonic Lines for Jazz Guitar - PDF eBook Method with Tabs and Audio Files

This jazz guitar method is an eBook available as a PDF with standard notation, guitar tabs, diagrams, analysis, audio files and backing tracks. You will find in this booklet 25 easy jazz guitar lines with theory using common and rare pentatonic scales.
49 jazz guitar lines carre

49 Essential Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs, Standard Notation & Audio Files

This printable eBook method in PDF format provides 49 jazz solo transcriptions of the greatest jazz musicians. Tab, standard notation, audio files & analysis.
40 major licks visuel carre

40 Major Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs And Audio Files

Printable PDF eBook method containing 40 major jazz guitar licks with tab, standard notation and audio files for beginners and intermediates.
Arpeggio patterns for guitar pdf

101 Dominant Arpeggio Exercises For Guitar Players - Tab & Standard Notation - Printable PDF eBook Method

This printable PDF method provides 101 dominant arpeggio exercises with tab, theory and standard notation for the jazz, blues and rock guitarist.
40 minor dorian licks guitar method pdf

40 Minor (Dorian) Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF Method With Audio Files

This printable guitar method in PDF format contains 40 easy minor jazz guitar lines based on the Dorian mode.
40 ii v i licks for guitar

40 II V I Jazz Guitar Licks - Printable PDF eBook Method With Audio Files

This pdf method for guitar contains fourteen 2 5 1 jazz guitar lines with tab, standard notation, analysis, scale charts and audio files.
40 dominant licks guitar method

Mixolydian Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF Method - 40 Exercises With Audio

PDF guitar method with tabs, audio files and theory providing 40 dominant jazz guitar lines for teachers and students.
120 diatonic carre

120 Easy Jazz Licks For Guitar - BUNDLE - PDF Methods With Audio

This package contains 120 jazz guitar lines based on diatonic modes as Mixolydian, Dorian and Ionian. PDF format with tabs, audio files and analysis.
Walking bass lines for jazz guitar pdf

Guitar Walking Bass Lines & Chords - PDF Method - 35 Exercises With Tabs and Audio Files

This jazz guitar method about walking bass lines and chords is available as a PDF files containing 35 exercises with tabs, analysis and audio files
40 minor ii v i licks ebook pdf method

40 Minor II V I Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs & Audio

This guitar method is a printable PDF with tabs, diagrams, theory and audio files providing 40 minor 2 5 1 jazz patterns.
Minor 2 5 1 chords pdf

Minor 2 5 1 Chord Voicings For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method - 40 Exercises Audio Files

This PDF method contains 40 exercices with tabs, scores and audio files for practicing jazz guitar chords over the minor 2 5 1 progression.
Smooth jazz guitar licks pdf

30 Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks | PDF Method - Tabs, Standard Notation, Analysis, Audio Files

In this package you'll get a printable PDF Method with tabs, notation, analysis, scale shapes and audio files for practicing 30 smooth jazz guitar licks.
Triads for guitar pdf

The Complete Guide to 126 Guitar Triad Shapes (Printable PDF)

This handbook for guitar players is intended both for teachers and students. It includes 126 guitar shapes for mastering triads.
172 arpeggio shapes thumbnail

Arpeggios For Guitar - 172 Shapes With Formulas - Printable PDF Method

This printable PDF is a method dedicated to guitarists of all styles who want to learn build and play the most important types of arpeggios.
Guitar chord dictionnary ebook

Guitar Chord Dictionary - Printable PDF Method With Diagrams and Theory

This PDF eBook provides over 550 guitar chord shapes. This is the perfect reference guide to understand how chords are built and how to play them on the guitar neck.
170 2-5-1 jazz guitar exercices

2 5 1 Licks and Chords - 170 Jazz Guitar Exercises - PDF and Audio

This bundle contains 4 PDF methods for a total of 170 exercises with tabs, staves, analysis & audio files for practicing over the 2-5-1 progression.
Guitar scale dictionary thumbnail

Guitar Scale Dictionary - PDF Method With Formula Charts, Intervals and Diagrams

This E-book is a printable PDF method including over 700 scale diagrams and formula charts for guitarists.
30 minor arpeggio guitar licks thumbnail

30 Minor Arpeggio Licks For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method With Audio Files

This package includes a printable PDF method containing 30 exercises with tabs, staves and audio files for practicing minor arpeggios on guitar.
Guitar blues for kids

10 Easy Fingerstyle Blues Guitar Studies For Kids And Beginners - PDF With Tabs, Standard Notation And Audio

This PDF with Tabs and audio files provides 10 easy acoustic fingerstyle blues guitar studies for kids and beginners.
10 minor arpeggio guitar licks carre

10 Minor 7 Arpeggio Patterns For Jazz Guitar | PDF With YouTube Video Link

This printable PDF eBook offers 10 easy minor 7 arpeggio patterns with its related YouTube video for beginner guitarists.
10 major arpeggio guitar licks carre

10 Major 7 Arpeggio Licks For Beginners - PDF With YouTube Link And Backing Track

This is a printable PDF for beginner jazz guitar players providing 10 easy licks to practice major 7 arpeggios.
Chord melody exercises for guitar pdf

10 Easy Chord Melody Exercises For Jazz Guitar | PDF With Audio | 2 5 1 Progression

Within this package, you'll discover a set of ten chord melody exercises for beginners. Printable PDFaudio files, a backing track, and a link to a YouTube video.
Groovy jazz guitar licks pdf

30 Groovy Jazz Guitar Licks – PDF + Audio

Learn 30 groovy jazz guitar licks with printable PDF tabs, standard notation, audio files and 2 backing tracks. Explore jazz, blues and funk phrasing.
10 minor blues scale jazz licks for guitar

10 Minor Blues Scale Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF With Audio Files

You'll find here a PDF with 10 easy jazz guitar licks to practice the minor blues scale on guitar.
Major scale harmonization thumbnail

Major Scale Harmonization - Shell Voicings With Extensions

This package provides a printable PDF with exercises and audio files to learn how to harmonize the major scale with 3 note chords and their extensions.
Harmonic major scale harmonization carre

Harmonic Major Scale Chords For Guitar - Printable PDF With Diagrams And Tabs

this PDF offers diagrams and tabs for guitar to learn the chords of the harmonic major scale.
Scale harmonization thumbnail

Harmonized Scales for Guitar – PDF Method | Chords & Arpeggios

Learn how to harmonize major, minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor and harmonic major scales on guitar. 48-page PDF with chords, arpeggios, tabs and diagrams.
Caged arpeggios for guitar pdf carre

CAGED Arpeggios for Guitar - PDF eBook Method - 600 Shapes

Master the guitar fretboard with this PDF CAGED arpeggio method: 600 shapes to improve chord-tone awareness, harmony, and improvisation skills.
Guitar dictionary bundle pdf ebooks

Guitar Scales & Chords Dictionary Bundle - PDF Methods

Master the guitar fretboard with this Scales & Chords Dictionary Bundle. 57 scales, 700+ diagrams, 550+ chord shapes and 166 pages of PDF methods.
10 outside minor pentatonic guitar licks pdf

10 Side-Stepping Minor Pentatonic Licks for Guitar - PDF Method

Learn 10 side-stepping minor pentatonic guitar licks for outside playing. Download the PDF guitar lesson with audio files and expand your improvisation skills.
guitar scales poster

Essential Guitar Scale Shapes – Complete Fretboard Reference Poster

Guitar scale poster with 17 fretboard diagrams covering modes, pentatonics, blues, minor & symmetric scales. Ideal for teachers, students & players.
Guitar chords poster chart

Jazz Guitar Chord Reference Chart – 63 Essential Chord Shapes

Explore 63 essential jazz guitar chord shapes with clear diagrams and interval names. A reference poster featuring major, minor, dominant, diminished, extended and altered chords.
Guitar poster modes of the major scale

Guitar Poster - Modes of The Major Scale

Guitar reference posters and wall art about modes of the major scale for guitar teachers, students and music schools.
Guitar poster arpeggio shapes

Arpeggio Shapes For Guitar - Posters and Wall Art

Master jazz guitar with this Guitar Arpeggio Shapes Poster featuring 8 essential arpeggio types, clear fretboard diagrams, and interval names.
Triads guitar poster

Guitar Triads Poster - Reference Chart - Shapes & Formulas (Handwritten Style) - 24"x 36" (60 x 90 cm)

This reference poster show the positions and intervals of the main triads used on guitar. This is a useful tool for guitarists, teacher and students.
Guitar 01 mini 2

Decorative Guitar Poster - Four Archtop Guitars - Wall Art - Landscape Format

This is a decorative poster with four archtop jazz guitars. Several size and colors in landscape format available on Teespring and redbubble.
Guitar poster modes of the melodic minor scale

Melodic Minor Modes - Guitar Poster With Scale, Arpeggio And Chord Charts

Educative and decorative giant guitar poster with neck diagrams, interval names about the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.
Major pentatonic scale guitar poster wall art

Pentatonic Scales - Guitar Poster - Educative Reference Chart

This guitar reference poster shows the positions and intervals of the major pentatonic scale.
Guitar poster with notes diagrams and staff

Guitar Poster With Notes On Fretboard And Staff

This is a giant poster showing the notes on the guitar fret board and their positions on a musical staff.
Intervals on guitar educative poster wallart

Intervals On Guitar - Poster With Neck Diagrams

This giant poster for guitar provides neck diagrams with interval positions.
Major scale modes music theory poster

Diatonic Major Scale Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This poster is created for music teachers and students, illustrating the structure of the seven modes of the major scale.
Melodic minor modes music theory poster

Melodic Minor Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This music theory poster available in several sizes shows the construction of the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.
Harmonic minor modes muisc theory poster

Harmonic Minor Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This music theory poster, offered in various sizes, demonstrates the structure of the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.
Major scale chords guitar poster

Major Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

This handy poster provides a clear visual guide to the chords built from the major scale, helping you recognize patterns and improve your playing.
Harmonic minor guitar chords poster

Harmonic Minor Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

Discover the chords of the harmonic minor scale with this guitar poster.
Melodic minor guitar chords

Melodic Minor Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

Explore the rich harmonic possibilities of the melodic minor scale with this essential guitar poster.
Mini jazz guitar lesson

Guitar Walking Bass Lines And Chords - Mini Lesson 01 (ML 01)

You'll find a mini guitar lesson about walking bass lines and chords containing a PDF with tab, score analysis, shapes, a video and a guitar pro file.
Ml02 jazz lines over common chord changes thumbnail

Jazz Guitar Lines Over Basic Chord Progressions - Mini Lesson 02 (ML 02)

In this mini jazz guitar lesson you will learn how to play easy and cool jazz lines over basic chord changes found in jazz. Pdf, tab and video included.
Mini jazz guitar lesson arpeggios

Arpeggio Practice - Mini Guitar Lesson 03 (ML 03)

With this short lesson you will learn how to play and connect basic guitar arpeggios over a diatonic chord progression.
Jazz blues guitar arpeggio lesson tab pdf

Jazz Blues Arpeggio Study in Bb (part 1) - Mini Guitar Lesson 04 (ML 04)

This is a downloadable package with PDF, Tab, guitar pro file and video to practice guitar arpeggios over a jazz blues chord progression.
Jazz blues arpeggios on guitar pdf mini lesson

Jazz Blues Arpeggios - Study in Bb (Part 2) - Mini Guitar Lesson 05 (ML 05)

This downloadable package provides a PDF with Tab/score, a guitar pro file and a short video for practicing guitar arpeggios on a jazz blues progression in Bb.
Mini lesson ml06

Jazz Blues Arpeggio Study (Bb) Part 3 - Mini Guitar Lesson 06 (ML 06)

This package for guitarists contains a PDF with tab, video, backing track and guitar pro file for practicing arpeggios over a basic jazz blues progression.
Arpeggio superimposition lesson for guitar

Arpeggio Superimposition For Guitar - Mini Lesson 07 (ML 07)

With this mini guitar lesson you will learn how to superimpose arpeggios over a diatonic chord progression. Video, pdf, jamtrack and guitar pro file included.
Mini lesson ml08

Connecting Scales And Arpeggios Over Bb Blues - Mini Lesson 08 (ML08)

Mini lesson with PDF, guitar pro file, video and backing track for practicing scale and arpeggio connections over a Bb jazz blues progression.
Mini jazz guitar lesson pdf video guitarpro

Mixing Jazz Guitar Chords And Melodic Lines Over a Blues In B - Mini Lesson (ML09) - PDF, Backing Track, Video and Guitar Pro File

This mini lesson is a downloadable package containing a PDF, video, backing track and guitar pro file of a jazz blues progression study in B.
Open triads on guitar mini jazz guitar lesson

Open Triads On Guitar - Fly Me To The Moon - Mini Lesson 10 - Printable PDF, Video, Backing Track, Guitar Pro File

This mini guitar lesson provides a printable PDF with tab/notation, video, backing track and guitar pro file for practicing open triads over Fly Me To The Moon.
Blue bossa solo lines for guitar

Blue Bossa Solo Lines For Guitar - Mini Lesson 11 - PDF, Video, Guitar Pro File, Backing Track

This guitar lesson is a package inlcuding a PDF transcription with analysis, a short video, a backing track and a guitar pro file to learn to play jazz solo lines over Blue Bossa.
Mini jazz blues guitar lesson 12

Jazz Blues Guitar Study in G - Mini Lesson (ML12) - Melodic Lines, Chord Extensions & Substitutions

This mini lesson provides a video, a guitar pro file and PDF transcription of a jazz blues study in G implying melodic lines, chord extensions and substitutions
Mini lesson ml13 250

Take The A Train Jazz Guitar Solo Study - Mini Lesson (ML 13)

Take the A Train jazz guitar lesson: solo study with PDF tab, backing track, audio demo and Guitar Pro file to improve phrasing and improvisation.

chords voicings Altered chords harmony

Comments

  • Jim Kernicky

    1 Jim Kernicky On 08/09/2019

    Nice that you included the 7#9b13. I've hardly seen that chord anywhere else. I assumed that it wasn't a chord since it's so close to a 7#5#9.

Add a comment

Anti-spam