HYBRID DERIVATION CHART (developed by Steven Kirby)

Hybrid = a triad or 7th chord placed over a non chord tone in the bass.

Key Points:

1) The bass note has Root Function In Sound and Analysis i.e. in the structure C/D the note D DOES NOT sound like a 9 on a C chord.
The D BECOMES THE ROOT of a NEW sounding structure.....in this case a D7sus4(9) i.e. D = root , C =b7 , E= 9, G=sus4.

2) Hybrids Have No 3rd hence an ambiguous sound. This openess in harmony is sometimes a very musically desirable attribute.
3) Hybrids are derived from chord scales as described in a 6 step process in the H4 text page 94.
4) Useful Patterns:
Upper structure triads tend to be built on the 2, 5 or 7 of the chord scale /mode
Upper structure 7th chords tend to be built on the 5 or 7 of the chord scale/ mode
INSTRUCTIONS: Using the process (6 steps in H4 text,pg 94), derive the available upper structure triads and 7th chords to create usable
hybrids and fill them in the chart below. Ionian and Dorian are done for you.

Original
Chord

Chord
Scale/
Mode

Available TRIADS to create

Hybrid

Available 7th CHORDS

to create Hybrid

built on scale degree:

built on scale degree:

2
Cmaj7 (I Maj7)

Ionian

----------

5
V (G)

7
---------

-----------

-------------

5,7,9

C-7 (II-7)

Dorian

C-7 (III-7)

Phrygian

Cmaj7 (IVmaj7)

Lydian

C7

Mixolydian

C-7 (VI-7)

Aeolian

C-7(b5)

Locrian

C7

Lydian b7

C7

Altered
Dominant

II- (D-)

V- (G-) bVII (Bb)

V-7 (G-7)

bVIImaj7 (Bbmaj7)

9,11,13

5,b7,9

5,b7,9,11

b7,9,11,13

b7,9,11

Exceptions......Hybrids which DO contain the 3rd....

Built on scale degree:
3
C+maj7

E
#5

C7(b9,13)
implied

A
b9,13

POLYCHORD DERIVATION CHART

Polychord = a triad or 7th chord placed over another triad or 7th chord. The upper structure
is either all tensions (some kind of 9,11,13) or a combination of tensions and chord tones. The lower
structure (at least in functional contexts) is the basis of the roman numeral function.
Proceedure: Basically the same as contructing hybrids except that poly chords contain the 3rd.
Two conditions:
Upper structure should have sufficient separation from the lower structure, at least a 3rd
Upper structure should be as close voiced as possible
See text for guidelines on options for voicing the lower structure: Page 104
Lower
Structure

Chord
Scale/
Mode

Available TRIADS for upper

structure to create Polychord

Available 7th CHORDS

to create upper structure/
poly chord

built on scale degree:

built on scale degree:

2
C!
Cmaj7!

Ionian
Ionian

---------------

E-

Cmaj7

Cmaj7(9)

------

G
Cmaj7(9)

C-

Dorian

Lydian

Lydian
b7

C7

Lydian
b7

C7

Lydian
b7,#9

Lydian
Augmented

C7

Altered

C7

Sym
Dom.
(HW)

Co7

Sym
Dim.
(WH)

----

E-7

-------- --------

Cmaj7(9)

----

--------

-------- --------

Lower
Structure

Chord
Scale/
Mode

Available TRIADS for upper

structure to create Polychord

Available 7th CHORDS

to create upper structure/
poly chord

built on scale degree:

built on scale degree:

2
C+

C-maj7

C-