SWARSHALA — CHORD SYMBOL PARSER
Original worksheet and answer key · 2026-10-03
Guide: https://swarshala.com/blog/read-chord-symbols-add-sus-extensions

SCOPE
Common lead-sheet convention used here: bare letter = major triad; m = minor;
7 adds a minor seventh; maj7 adds a major seventh. An unaltered 9 is major.
add9 does not imply a seventh. sus2/sus4 replace the third in these simple
exercises. We retain all nominal members; no practical omission is assumed.
Octave numbers use middle C = C4. Notes in voicings run from low to high.

PARSER FORM — copy one row for each symbol
Symbol:
Root and base quality:
Seventh, if any:
Added/replaced/altered member:
All nominal spelled pitch classes:
Bass instruction, if explicit:
One proposed voicing:
Still unspecified (register choices, doubling, rhythm, fingering, etc.):

TASK A — SAME ROOT, DIFFERENT OPERATIONS
1. Parse Dadd9, D9 and Dsus2. State what happens to F-sharp and C.
2. Parse Eadd9, E9 and Esus2.
3. Parse D7(flat9), then A7(flat9). Identify each seventh first.
4. Compare D9 with Dmaj9. Which one note changes?

TASK B — COLLECTION VERSUS VOICING
For each, decide whether it realises Dadd9 with every nominal member,
or has a different collection/bass instruction. Explain the exact reason.
a. D3 F#3 A3 E4
b. D2 A2 F#3 E4
c. D3 A3 D4 F#4 E5
d. D3 F#3 A3 C4 E4
e. F#2 D3 A3 E4
f. D4 F#4 A4 E5

Do not justify a missing third, seventh or named extension by saying
"players omit notes". In an arrangement, write exactly what is omitted
and whether another part supplies it. Our task uses full-member fixtures.

ANSWER KEY
A1. Dadd9: D F# A E; F# retained, no C. D9: D F# A C E;
F# retained and minor seventh C included. Dsus2: D E A; E replaces F#,
and no C is implied. Dsus4 would be D G A.
A2. Eadd9: E G# B F#. E9: E G# B D F#. Esus2: E F# B.
A3. D7(flat9): D F# A C Eb. C is the minor seventh, E lowers to Eb.
A7(flat9): A C# E G Bb. G is the minor seventh, B lowers to Bb.
A4. D9: D F# A C E. Dmaj9: D F# A C# E. C changes to C#.
B a, b, c and f all realise Dadd9; spacing, register or doubling changes.
B d adds C and matches D9 in this full-member exercise.
B e retains the Dadd9 collection but puts F# lowest: Dadd9/F#.

TEXT EQUIVALENT OF THE GUIDE'S ORIGINAL FIGURE
Dadd9 -> retain D major (D F# A), add E; no seventh.
D9 -> retain D major (D F# A), add C and E; minor seventh present.
Dsus2 -> D E A; replace the third F# with E.

SOURCES
Open Music Theory 2e, Chord Symbols, Humanities LibreTexts edition:
https://human.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Music/Music_Theory/Open_Music_Theory_2e_(Gotham_et_al.)/06:_Jazz/6.02:_Chord_Symbols
Puget Sound, Simple Sus Chords:
https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/SimpleSusChords.html
Open Music Theory, Jazz Voicings (context-dependent omissions):
https://viva.pressbooks.pub/openmusictheory/chapter/jazz-voicings/
Sources support conventions; all worksheet fixtures are original.