Altered dominants · Tensions and pedal · Music theory
On a dominant chord, tensions have a specific job: to increase the push toward the tonic. With ♭9 and ♭13 it leans toward minor, which is why they resolve…
Altered dominants
On a dominant chord, tensions have a specific job: to increase the push toward the tonic. With ♭9 and ♭13 it leans toward minor, which is why they resolve best to a minor chord; with natural 9 and 13, toward major. In practice, though, they are mixed freely.
A musician reading C7alt can choose among ♭9, ♯9, ♯11 and ♭13, with no natural 5th: as far away as possible. The 5th can also be altered: C7(♯5), C7(♭5).