Editing Upper structure

In [[jazz]], the term '''upper structure''' or "upper structure triad" refers to a [[voicing (music)|voicing]] approach developed by jazz pianists and [[arrangement|arrangers]] defined by the sounding of a major or minor [[triad (music)|triad]] in the uppermost pitches of a more complex harmony.<ref name="Ellenberger">Ellenberger, Kurt. ''Materials and Concepts in Jazz Improvisation'', p.20.</ref>

==Examples==

'''Example 1''': Below, a common voicing used by jazz pianists is given for the chord C<sup>7{{music|#}}9</sup> (C major chord with a minor 7th, and extended with an augmented 9th).

In the lower stave the notes E{{music|natural}} and B{{music|b}} are given. These form a tritone which defines the [[dominant chord|dominant]] sound, and are the major 3rd and minor 7th of the C<sup>7{{music|#}}9</sup> chord. 

In the upper stave the notes E{{music|b}}, G, and B{{music|b}} are given together: these form an E{{music|b}} major triad.

{{Image frame|content=<score sound="1">
\new PianoStaff <<
  \omit Score.TimeSignature
  \new Staff { <ees' g' bes'>1 }
  \new Staff { \clef bass <e bes>1 }
>>
</score>|align=center}}

This E{{music|b}} major triad is what would be called the upper structure. Considered in relation to the root C, the notes of this E{{music|b}} major triad function, respectively, as the sharpened ninth (the root of the E{{music|b}} major chord), fifth, and seventh in relation to that root. 

(Note: the root C is omitted here, and is often done so by jazz pianists for ease of playing, or because a bass player is present.)

'''Example 2''': The following example illustrates the notes of an F{{music|#}} minor triad functioning as part of a C<sup>13{{music|b}}9{{music|#}}11</sup> chord (C major chord with a minor 7th, minor 9th, augmented 11th, and major 13th):

{{Image frame|content=<score sound="1">
\new PianoStaff <<
  \omit Score.TimeSignature
  \new Staff { <cis' fis' a'>1 }
  \new Staff { \clef bass <e bes>1 }
>>
</score>|align=center}}

In relation to the root of C, the C{{music|#}} ([[enharmonic]] with D{{music|b}}) functions as the minor 9th, the F{{music|#}} as the augmented 11th, and the A as the major 13th, respectively.

==Application==

Determining which additional pitches can be juxtaposed with the chord is achieved by considering the relationship between a particular chord and the scale it implies. An example follows:

#The chord C<sup>13{{music|b}}9{{music|#}}11</sup> contains the following notes, from the root upwards: C, E, G, B{{music|b}}, D{{music|b}}, F{{music|#}}, A;
#The following [[octatonic scale]] contains all of these pitches{{what|date=September 2020}}, and fits/matches up with the C<sup>13{{music|b}}9{{music|#}}11</sup> chord: C–D{{music|b}}–D{{music|#}}–E–F{{music|#}}–G–A–B{{music|b}}–C; these scale elements form a pool from which melodic and harmonic devices might be devised.
#

==Shorthand notation==

Common jazz parlance refers to upper structures by way of the interval between the root of the bottom chord and the root of the triad juxtaposed above it.<ref name="Levine">"The Jazz Piano Book". Mark Levine. (1989). Petaluma, CA: Chapter Fourteen - ''Upper Structures'' pages 109-124</ref> For instance, in example one above (C<sup>7{{music|#}}9</sup>) the triad of E{{music|b}} major is a (compound) minor 3rd away from C (root of the bottom chord). Thus, this upper structure can be called ''upper structure flat three'', or '''US{{music|b}}III''' for short.  

Other possible upper structures are: 

*'''USII''' – e.g. D major over C<sup>7</sup>, resulting in C<sup>13{{music|#}}11</sup>
*'''US{{music|b}}V''' – e.g. G{{music|b}} major over C<sup>7</sup>, resulting in C<sup>7{{music|b}}9{{music|#}}11</sup>
*'''US{{music|b}}VI''' – e.g. A{{music|b}} major over C<sup>7</sup>, resulting in C<sup>7{{music|#}}9{{music|b}}13</sup>
*'''USVI''' – e.g. A major over C<sup>7</sup>, resulting in C<sup>13{{music|b}}9</sup>
*'''USi''' – e.g. C minor over C<sup>7</sup>, resulting in C<sup>7{{music|#}}9</sup>
*'''US{{music|b}}ii''' – e.g. D{{music|b}} minor over C<sup>7</sup>, resulting in C<sup>7{{music|b}}9{{music|b}}13</sup>
*'''US{{music|b}}iii''' – e.g. E{{music|b}} minor over C<sup>7</sup>, resulting in C<sup>7{{music|#}}9{{music|#}}11</sup>

The second item in the list above (C<sup>7{{music|b}}9{{music|#}}11</sup>) has a related version called ''upper structure sharp four minor''--with the written shorthand '''US{{music|#}}iv'''--created with an F{{music|#}} minor triad. (See "Example 2" above.)

==See also==
*[[Extended harmony]]
*[[Jazz chord]]
*[[Jazz scale]]s
*[[Polychord]]
*[[Chordioid]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Chords}}
{{Jazz theory}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Upper Structure}}
[[Category:Chords]]
[[Category:Jazz techniques]]
[[Category:Jazz terminology]]