Note identifier · Reference entry
What chord is 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.
Every tone of Dsus2 is present, with D in the bass — the definitive reading.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | sounding |
| 2 | E | sounding |
| 5 | A | sounding |
All tones of Asus4 are present; the D note is lowest (1st inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | sounding |
| 4 | D | sounding |
| 5 | E | sounding |
3rd, 6th, and 9th of C6/9 sound; it reads as C6/9 with the C (1) and G (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | omitted |
| 3 | E | sounding |
| 5 | G | omitted |
| 6 | A | sounding |
| 9 | D | sounding |
♭3, ♭7, and 11th of Bm11 sound; it reads as Bm11 with the B (1), F♯ (5), and C♯ (9) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | omitted |
| ♭3 | D | sounding |
| 5 | F♯ | omitted |
| ♭7 | A | sounding |
| 9 | C♯ | omitted |
| 11 | E | sounding |
3rd, 7th, and 13th of Fmaj13 sound; it reads as Fmaj13 with the F (1), C (5), G (9), and B♭ (11) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | omitted |
| 3 | A | sounding |
| 5 | C | omitted |
| 7 | E | sounding |
| 9 | G | omitted |
| 11 | B♭ | omitted |
| 13 | D | sounding |
root, 4th, and ♭7 of E7sus4 sound; it reads as E7sus4 with the B (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | sounding |
| 4 | A | sounding |
| 5 | B | omitted |
| ♭7 | 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 E9sus4: a dominant 9th sus4 E chord needs F♯ as its 9th — F♯ is absent.
Not E11: a dominant 11th E chord needs G♯ as its 3rd — G♯ is absent.
Not Em11: a minor 11th E chord needs G as its ♭3 — G is absent.
Not E13sus4: a dominant 13th sus4 E chord needs C♯ as its 13th — C♯ is absent.
Not Em11♭5: a minor 11th ♭5 E chord needs G as its ♭3 and B♭ as its ♭5 — G and B♭ are absent.
How these notes relate
D, E, and A is a voicing of C6/9 with the C (root) and G (5th) left out.
The same notes over A in the bass spell Asus4.
Add F♯ (its 9th) and the set reads as E9sus4.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {2, 4, 9}
- Normal order
- [2,4,9]
- Prime form
- [0,2,7]
- Interval vector
- <010020>
- Forte set class
- 3-9
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