Types of tetrads
Tetrads are four-note chords
Root position: the lowest voice is the root of the chord: 1
1st inversion: the lowest voice is the 3rd
2nd inversion: the lowest voice is the 5th
3rd inversion: the lowest voice is the 7th
Close Voicing
Close voicing is a chord arrangement in which the chord tones are placed as close together as possible, typically within a single octave, with no large intervals between adjacent voices.
| Position | Voices |
|---|---|
| Root position | 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 |
| 1st inversion | 3 – 5 – 7 – 1 |
| 2nd inversion | 5 – 7 – 1 – 3 |
| 3rd inversion | 7 – 1 – 3 – 5 |
Drop 2
Drop 2 chords: Drop one octave down the 2nd highest note of a tetrad.
| Position | Voices | Origin: Close Voicing |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | 1 – 5 – 7 – 3 | 2nd inversion 5 – 7 – 1 – 3 |
| 1st inversion | 3 – 7 – 1 – 5 | 3rd inversion 7 – 1 – 3 – 5 |
| 2nd inversion | 5 – 1 – 3 – 7 | Root position 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 |
| 3rd inversion | 7 – 3 – 5 – 1 | 1st inversion 3 – 5 – 7 – 1 |
Drop 3
Drop 3 chords: Drop one octave down the 3rd highest note of a tetrad.
| Position | Voices | Origin: Close Voicing |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | 1 – 7 – 3 – 5 | 3rd inversion 7 – 1 – 3 – 5 |
| 1st inversion | 3 – 1 – 5 – 7 | Root position 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 |
| 2nd inversion | 5 – 3 – 7 – 1 | 1st inversion 3 – 5 – 7 – 1 |
| 3rd inversion | 7 – 5 – 1 – 3 | 2nd inversion 5 – 7 – 1 – 3 |
Fifthless Tetrads
Fifthless tetrads are four-note chords without the fifth, used to facilitate extensions.
| Examples | Voices |
|---|---|
| Δ9 | 1 – 3 – 7 – 9 |
| Δ11 | 1 – 3 – 7 – 11 |
| Δ13 | 1 – 3 – 7 – 13 |