Chord Transfor mations

You can use the F.I.N. System to transform any chord into another. This ability will en-
able you to add harmonic variety to existing compositions. Transforming chords this way
allows you to create melody lines on the top, bottom, and inside the chord.

Below is a series of diagrams that show a chord transformation. Reading from left to
right the chord begins as a major 7th chord, then becomes a dominant 7th by lowering
the interval on the third string a half step. Then, when the interval on the fourth string is
raised a half step, the chord becomes a suspended 7th.

2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2

3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3
4 R 4 4 R 4 4 <3 R 4 4 <3 R 4 4 <3 R 4

7 3 6 7 3 6 7 6 7 6 <5 7 6 <5

5 R 4 2 5 5 R 4 <7 2 5 5 R 4 <7 2 5 5 R 4 <7 2 5 5 R 4 2 5

7 7 7 7 7

maj 7 dom 7 min 7 min 7<5 dim 7

lower the 7th lower the 3rd lower the 5th lower the <7th

Any chord can be transformed into another

lower the 3rd type by changing its intervals. When you raise the <5
know the intervals and their positions you can
use any chord you know as a landmark chord.

2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2 2 5 R 4 6 2

3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3 3 6 2 5 7 3
4 <3 R 4 4 R 4 4 R 4 4 R 4 4 <3 R 4

7 3 6 7 3 6 7 3 6 7 3 6 7 6
<7 5 5 R 4 <7 2 5 5 R 4 <7 2 5 5 R 4 2 5 5 R 4 2 5
7 >5 7 7 7
min maj 7 aug 7 sus 7 maj 6 min 6

lower the 3rd and 5th, lower the 4th, raise the 3rd and 6th raise the <3rd
raise the <7 raise the 5th

We have used the major 6/9 chord as a landmark chord but in fact any chord you are fa-
miliar with could be used for this purpose. As long as you have a good grasp of the root
location and the intervals, you can calculate and/or create new chords at will.

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