Voicing Box V · M3 + M3 + m3

Box V

A separate four-note shape — two stacked thirds and a minor third — that handles the colourful tensions: ♯11, alt, sus♭9, Δ9, minor-major 9, and Δ♯5. Six chord qualities per cell, same as the Box I family.

Voicing Boxes Series

Overview·Box I·Box II·Box III·Box IV·Box V·ii-V-I (I)·ii-V-I (II)

What this box is

Box V is a four-note rootless shape. Its interval signature from the bottom up is M3 + M3 + m3 (4 + 4 + 3 semitones). The shape itself doesn't change — only the chord you imagine underneath does. That's how a single fingering can voice 6 distinct chord qualities.

Six chord qualities

Each cell of Box V maps to these six qualities:

7♯117alt7sus♭9Δ9-Δ9Δ♯5

Cells

tap a cell to inspect its shape

Voicing

E♭ – G – B – D

Stack from low to high — M3 + M3 + m3

Six chord interpretations of this shape

7♯11

F7♯11

7alt

B7alt

7sus♭9

D7sus♭9

Δ9

A♭Δ9

-Δ9

C-Δ9

Δ♯5

E♭Δ♯5

All six cells

Cell	Voicing	7♯11	7alt	7sus♭9	Δ9	-Δ9	Δ♯5
1	E♭–G–B–D	F7♯11	B7alt	D7sus♭9	A♭Δ9	C-Δ9	E♭Δ♯5
2	A♭–C–E–G	B♭7♯11	E7alt	G7sus♭9	D♭Δ9	F-Δ9	A♭Δ♯5
3	D♭–F–A–C	E♭7♯11	A7alt	C7sus♭9	G♭Δ9	B♭-Δ9	D♭Δ♯5
4	G♭–B♭–D–F	A♭7♯11	D7alt	F7sus♭9	C♭Δ9	E♭-Δ9	G♭Δ♯5
5	B–E♭–G–B♭	D♭7♯11	G7alt	B♭7sus♭9	FΔ9	A-Δ9	BΔ♯5
6	E–A♭–C–E♭	G♭7♯11	C7alt	E♭7sus♭9	B♭Δ9	D-Δ9	EΔ♯5

How to practise

Play one cell with both hands together — left hand finds the implied root, right hand plays the four notes.
Keep the right-hand shape and rotate the bass through all six chord interpretations. Notice how dramatically the colour changes.
Move up a perfect fourth to the next cell. The shape contour stays identical; only the keys change.
String two cells together as a ii-V — the boxes are designed to voice-lead by step.

Frequently asked

Why no root?

Two reasons. First, in a band the bass player has the root covered. Second, leaving out the root makes the upper structure shape work for many chords at once — that is the whole point of the system.

Are these chord shapes fixed?

The pitch-class set is fixed. The exact octave you place each note in is up to you and the voice-leading context. Most pianists keep the shape inside one octave to start, then spread it once it's under their fingers.

How does Box V relate to the other boxes?

Box V is its own pitch set, used for tenser dominant and major colours. The Box I family (I, II, III, IV) shares one pitch set across four rotations. Box V is independent.

Try these voicings in a tool

Pull up the Chord Finder for any chord in the tables above and you'll see the shape on the keyboard. Drill the cells against a click on the Chord Drill.

Voicing Boxes Series

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Box IV

Functional Box I — ii-V-I

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