In jazz, what is an upper structure triad?

In jazz, the term upper structure or "upper structure triad" refers to a voicing approach developed by jazz pianists and arrangers defined by the sounding of a major or minor triad in the uppermost pitches of a more complex harmony.

1. What is an upper triad?
2. What are upper structure chords?
3. What is upper chord?

What is an upper triad?

Upper structure triads are three-note chords — triads — that use the notes beyond the root-3-5-7 arpeggio structure of any chord. This means they use the 9th, 11th and 13th notes of any chord, which are the 2nd, 4th and 6th notes, but up one octave to be placed above the underlying arpeggio shape.

What are upper structure chords?

An upper structure is a chord that is built on a note other than the root of a chord. For example, if you play an F major triad and then add a D in the bass register, you have F/D (F major over D) which is the same thing as a D-7 chord.

What is upper chord?

Upper Structures are a nice sounding and simple way to voice altered dominant chords. They are simply a triad over a tritone. They always have a 3rd & 7th in the left hand (which is a tritone apart in a V7 chord) and some kind of triad in the right hand. They give a ready-made voicing for the chord. ...