What chord is C–D–E♭–A?
Ranked readings
Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.
root, ♭3, 6th, and 9th of Cm6/9 sound; it reads as Cm6/9 with the G (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | sounding |
| ♭3 | E♭ | sounding |
| 5 | G | omitted |
| 6 | A | sounding |
| 9 | D | sounding |
3rd, 7th, 9th, and 11th of B♭maj11 sound; it reads as B♭maj11 with the B♭ (1) and F (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | omitted |
| 3 | D | sounding |
| 5 | F | omitted |
| 7 | A | sounding |
| 9 | C | sounding |
| 11 | E♭ | sounding |
3rd, 5th, ♭7, and 13th of F13 sound; it reads as F13 with the F (1), G (9), and B♭ (11) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | omitted |
| 3 | A | sounding |
| 5 | C | sounding |
| ♭7 | E♭ | sounding |
| 9 | G | omitted |
| 11 | B♭ | omitted |
| 13 | D | sounding |
Not these chords
Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.
Not D7♭9: a dominant 7th ♭9 D chord needs F♯ as its 3rd — F♯ is absent.
Not Adim7: a diminished 7th A chord needs G♭ as its ♭♭7 — G♭ is absent.
Not Cdim7: a diminished 7th C chord needs G♭ as its ♭5 — G♭ is absent.
Not E♭dim7: a diminished 7th E♭ chord needs G♭ as its ♭3 — G♭ is absent.
Not Am7♭5: a half diminished A chord needs G as its ♭7 — G is absent.
How these notes relate
C, D, E♭, and A is a voicing of Cm6/9 with the G (5th) left out.
Add F♯ (its 3rd) and the set reads as D7♭9.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {0, 2, 3, 9}
- Normal order
- [9,0,2,3]
- Prime form
- [0,1,3,6]
- Interval vector
- <112011>
- Forte set class
- 4-13
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