Mu Major Chords | The Unique Quality of These Special Chords

I'm sure I've stated before that the most wrong thing you can do at the piano is to be boring. This certainly goes for the type of chords you play.

Often times playing a simple triad will not only do the job, it may be the only chord appropriate for the moment. But that doesn't mean you have no other option than just a simple triad.

Let me introduce you to the Mu Major chord. If you've never heard of the Mu Major chord, it sounds somewhat exotic, but you'll quickly see how simple it is. It's also interesting how this chord gets it's name.

A Mu Major chord refers to a Major chord with an added 2nd tone. That's it. But it's definitely not the end of the story with this unique chord. More on this later in the article.

A simple C Major triadNow to transform this C Major triad into a C Mu Major chord, just add the 2nd tone. If you know the key of C Major, you're aware that the 2nd tone is a D.In root position, the Mu Major chord would look like this.

Compare this chord with just the simple triad and you'll notice that the added 2nd gives it a unique sound. And even though I've shown it to you in root position, you can play it in any voicing and each one has a distinctive characteristic.

Also the Mu Major chord can be played with any chord.

Be aware that this chord differs from a sus2 chord. A sus 2 chord would not have the 3rd in it therefore making it a suspended chord.

The Mu Major chord includes the 2nd and 3rd tones and this is what gives it such a unique sound. The more you incorporate this chord into your music, the more you hear how it differs from a simple Major triad.

Where does this chord actually come from? I'm glad you asked. It's associated with the jazz-rock band Steely Dan. They used this chord extensively in their compositions and they even often arpeggiated it at the end of musical phrases. That's why it's associated with them in popular music.

They once explained in an interview that the reason they gravitated to this chord so much in their music, is they wanted to enrich the sound of a major chord without making it into a "jazz chord".

It was also stated that the the voicing of the 2nd and 3rd tones together, is the essence of the chord's appeal. So they're more often played with this voicing than most others.