Three or more tones sounding simultaneously. In traditional European music
the
base chord is a triad consisting of 2
thirds. Major (major
+
minor third) as well as minor (minor + major third)
chords may be extended with more thirds. Four-tone seventh chords and five-tone ninth major chords are most often used as dominants
(functional harmony). A special case is chords having no
third above the lower notes to define their quality as major or minor. Such
chords are denoted open chords
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Music Dictionary