Upper structure triad

An upper structure triad (also upper-structure triad) is a three note chord, or triad, "comprising extensions of the parent harmony"Advanced: "Secrets of the symmetrical augmented scale". Josh Workman. "Guitar Player" 41.7 (July 2007): p108(2).] . This "lower structure" must be an extended chord.

The use of upper structure triads is a voicing technique used in jazz music in which the extended chord is constructed such that the top three pitches function both as part of the overall harmony and as a distinct major, minor, diminished, or augmented triad. The triad produces a resonance of its own in addition to supplementing the basic chord sound with extensions and/or alterations.

Examples

In the following example, the notes E-flat, G, and B-flat in the treble clef appear as part of the harmony and also form an E-flat major triad.

This is a possible voicing of a C dominant-seventh chord in which the notes of the upper structure triad function as the raised ninth, fifth, and seventh of the chord. It is also a possible voicing of an F-sharp dominant-seventh chord (the tritone substitution for C), in which the notes of the upper structure triad function as the thirteenth, lowered ninth, and third.

The following example illustrates the notes of an F-sharp minor triad functioning as part of a dominant-quality harmony.

In this voicing, used as a C dominant-seventh chord, the C-sharp (enharmonic with D-flat) functions as a lowered ninth, the F-sharp functions as a lowered fifth or raised eleventh, and the A functions as the thirteenth. Used as an F-sharp dominant-seventh chord, the C-sharp functions as the fifth, the F-sharp functions as the root, and the A functions as the raised ninth.

ources

Levine, Mark (1989). The Jazz Piano Book. Petaluma, CA: Sher Music Company.Chapter Fourteen - "Upper Structures" pages 109-124

ee also

*Jazz chord