Chord a Day, March 30th - F7#9#5

F7#9#5 is a Core Chord

A core chord is a basic chord that other chords can be derived from – creating new chords from your known chords. Your ever expanding set of core chords creates a solid foundation for playing music on ukulele or any instrument capable of playing chords. There are just far too many chord shapes to memorize all the possibilities. Some chords you can simply create on the fly as needed based on known information and how chords work.

Open Position chords typically do not show the location of the root or letter name of the chord, as these chords are the first chords a ukulele player learns. They are almost entirely learned by shape and sound–hopefully, the chord names. Later on, one develops the ability to determine the location of the chord root(s) or letter name within the chord.

Standard Music Notation and TAB

Standard music notation and TAB for C Tuning, Low and High G variations

The same numbering notation used in TAB can be used to describe the open strings and frets to be played when using text-only notation or verbal communications. Using an open position C as an example, we can describe it as 0003, indicating open strings four, three, and two with fret (3) being fingered on string one. An open position, D7 , indicated as 2020

As you can see that are numerous ways to describe a chord, either verbally Put your finger here…, in Standard Music Notation , TAB , and in text, graphically using a Chord Grid , etc.

Derived From

Today's chord, F7#9#5 is a derived chord from F9 . Take any chord progression with F9 in it and explore substituting F7#9#5 for F9.

View the F9 Learn A Chord A Day page…

Chord Spelling

Chord Spelling is simply knowing what the notes, the chord tones of a chord are.

The notes of all chords can be determined from its corresponding major scale based on the root of the chord and numeric formula.

The notes for F7#9#5 are:

F A C# Eb G#

The chord tones are the 1 3 #5 b7 #9 scale degrees of the parent F Major Scale .

Additional Information

The implied root is on string two. As your might have noticed - that from one F& chord we can deriver a lot of altered chord. A seventh chord is one of the most altered chords.

Recommended Fingering(s)

Alternate Fingering(s)

Although alternate fingerings might be possible, the recommended fingering for any chord should be based on an efficient fingering, easy to reproduce on demand and Low Maintenance.

Fingering Notation

Fingering notation for a chord using text only, without using a chord grid, is typically done using the finger numbers from left to right, string four to string one (nose to toes). Here is the text notation for January 1st C chord.

A Typical text representation of a chord fingering without using a chord grid.

Note: A Zero (0) fingering notation represents an open string that doesn't require using a finger.

Fingering Chords

Additional alternate fingerings might be possible for selected chords. If there isn't an overwhelming musical reason for one fingering over another, let efficiency be the determining factor. Something as simple as longer fingers that can reach the lower strings four and three will go a long way to being efficient when switching chords.

Factors such as playing notes right behind the fret take less effort than in the middle of the fret. Less effort leads to overall efficiency; lower maintenance for maintaining your technique and efficiency leads to speed. This can help in determining what finger to use. Finger three can overlap finger four, and finger two can overlap finger three a little, allowing them to get closer to the fret.

Remember, the thumb's primary role is to support the fingers–not play notes. Think of the thumb as a Stagehand. He is unseen, doesn't get any lines, but is a critical member of the team. There are musical situations where you might use your thumb but they are mainly rhythmic / strumming reasons.

Chord Construction, Notes and Intervals

All chords can be constructed based on their intervals relative to the major scale of the root or letter name of the chord. The individual names of the notes of the chord can also be determined from the same scale.

The chord tones for F7#9#5 are: F A C# Eb G#

F7#9#5 is the 1 3 #5 b7 #9 of the F Major Scale based on the root (F) of the chord.

7th (pronounced Seventh)

A partial seventh chord can be created by lowering the Root of a major triad two frets.

A seventh chord as a 4-part chord ( 1 3 5 b7 ) and one of the Big Six core chords used to derive other contemporary and jazz chords.

A Seventh chord along with your basic major and minor chords are the most common chord you will encounter.

Altered Chords

Alterations are applied to the 9th, 5th, 11th and thirteenth of a chord. The common alterations are the b5, #5, b9, #9, #11, b13.

Alternate notation for a sharp (♯) is a plus sign + and for a flat (♭) is a minus sign -

Altered Ninths

Altered ninths typically only apply to seventh chords.

An altered nine chord is created by raising the root of a seventh chord one fret for a 7b9 or three frets for a 7#9. Alternate notations include 7-9 and 7+9

Next Steps

After memorizing today's F7#9#5 chord and when you are able to switch in time with other chords, the next step is adding various Strums , Fingerpicking patterns, and exploring the Movable Chord versions of today's chord, to your ukulele skills.