In modern music styles like pop, rock, RnB, EDM there are chords that are more common, like triads, 7ths and suspended chords.
But there are also chords that are very rare in these modern popular music styles, that are much more common in soundtrack music, jazz etc. Let’s explore some of these “unusual chords”.
3 Amazing but Unusual Chords
- Diminished 7th Chord (1, b3, b5, b7)
- Augmented Chord (1, 3, #5)
- Flat 5 Chord (1, 3, b5)
The diminished 7th chord, is made up of 3 minor thirds stacked on top of each other, which creates the only fully symmetrical chord.
This means you can do any inversion and it is still the exact same chord, and can even be named as any of its inversions as it depends on perspective.
The sound of the diminished 7th chord is dissonant, with a strong pull towards wanting to be resolved. It can work very well as a transition chord, or as a “tension chord”, to create an ominous or even creepy vibe.
The augmented chord is made of a standard major triad, where you raise the 5th a half step (augmenting it).
This interval, together with the major 3rd vibe, creates a mysterious and magical vibe. Something is odd, yet not scary. It’s great for adding a sense of mystery, while still keeping the overall pleasing atmosphere.
The flat 5 chord is made from flattening the 5th of a standard major triad. This creates an interval of a tritone between the root and flat 5, which is the most high tension interval in music.
The flat 5 chord is not as dark as a diminished triad, since the 3rd here is still major. But it does have that odd and out of place vibe from the tritone.