Quartal chords

In music, quartal harmony is the building of harmonic structures built from the intervals of the perfect fourth, the augmented fourth and the diminished fourth. For instance, a three-note quartal chord on C can be built by stacking perfect fourths, C–F–B♭.

1. What are quartal chords used for?
2. How do you use quartal voicing?
3. How do you name a quartal chord?
4. What is a quartal voicing?

What are quartal chords used for?

Quintal chords, created by 5th intervals, have a similar effect. Quartal chords can be used as 1-chords, as 4-chords, as passing chords… almost anywhere. In fact, you've probably marveled at jazz players using them and because of their distinct sound, you couldn't even tell what the player was doing!

How do you use quartal voicing?

At the very least, it involves two notes separated by fourths. For example, playing C and F together produces a sound that characterizes quartal harmony. If you stack another fourth (Bb) on top of the C and F, you get a typical quartal harmony voicing. Add more on top or below and you get really open-sounding chords.

How do you name a quartal chord?

The way I'd notate a quartal chord is to write out the chord and write "Quartal" above it. At least everyone will understand that way. The only other classical one that I can remember is "S" which stands for secundal... those are for chords built on seconds.

What is a quartal voicing?

The term “quartal” in music refers to the interval of a fourth. When musicians refer to quartal voicings they are referring to chords that are built using intervals of a fourth (as opposed to intervals of a third, like major or minor triads, which are referred to as “tertian”).