Embarrasing question on chord notation

[stephenm52]

I recently received a fake book that has a triangle next to chords. Many years ago when I learned chords I never saw that notation. What does the triangle indicate?

[nursers]

Not an embarrassing question at all Stephen - I've not heard of that either....

[stephenm52]

Thanks David, I thought maybe I was the only one here who didn't know what it meant. Since my original post I found 2 copies of the song Makin' Whoopee. Both are in the same key with almost identical chord notations. In one fake book the C maj chord is simply noted as C, whereas in the recent fake book it's noted C(triangle)7. So I'm guessing it may mean major?

[David R]

Triangles mean major 7, yes. I didn't know what they meant - I'd never even seen that notation - until my high school jazz band director used them, and now I guess it's become a North American jazz education standard. Thank you Jamey Abersold.

 

I prefer geometrical objects to notate major 7 instead of just "C", because to me "C" means C major triad, no extensions. The clearest way is to write maj7.

 

David

[stephenm52]

Thanks David R, appreciate the info.

 

http://www.steveonpiano.com

[sudeep]

Yeah think JA books use a triangle as MAJ7 but ive seen some books use a traiangle as simply major triad. Like a minus sign for minor. I only learnt that in music school so NOTHING to be embarrassed about.

 

btw for any music/theory questions also hop over to keyboard corner...those guys are so f***ing knowledgeable!!!

[sudeep]

Yeah think JA books use a triangle as MAJ7 but ive seen some books use a traiangle as simply major triad. Like a minus sign for minor. I only learnt that in music school so NOTHING to be embarrassed about.

 

btw for any music/theory questions also hop over to keyboard corner...those guys are so f***ing knowledgeable!!!