akkord

Akkord is a set of pitches heard as a single harmonic unit in music. Typically, an akkord consists of three or more notes played simultaneously, though it can be heard or written as an arpeggio. The most common type is the triad, formed by stacking two intervals of a third above the root. The major triad consists of a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth; the minor triad uses a minor third; diminished and augmented triads alter the fifth interval.

Beyond triads, many akkorde include sevenths and other intervals. A seventh adds a seventh above the root, giving rise to major seventh, dominant seventh, and minor seventh chords. Extended chords extend beyond the seventh (ninths, elevenths, thirteenths). Inversions place different chord tones in the bass; chord symbols often indicate inversion with slash notation (for example, C/E denotes E in the bass).

Function and harmony: In tonal music, akkorde function within a key as tonic, subdominant, or dominant, guiding resolution. Common progressions include I–IV–V–I or ii–V–I, where the dominant creates tension that resolves to the tonic. In other styles, such as jazz and pop, extended and altered chords add color, while careful voice leading shapes texture and coherence.

Notation and analysis: Akkorde are written on staff notation, figured bass in historical contexts, or described with chord symbols (for example, C major, Am7, G7). In performance and arrangement, voicing and spacing affect sound and texture.

History and use: The concept of the akkord developed in Western music from medieval polyphony toward tonal harmony of the common-practice period, with triadic harmony becoming standard in the Baroque era and expanding in subsequent periods and styles. Regional traditions continue to influence how akkorde are used in different musical cultures.