Three note chords C#-A-E. What chord name?

[Strat-itis]

So, I'm struggling to find a sensible name for this three note chord with the notes C#-A-E.

Breh..

In context, I think that the notes C#-A-E could also be called a "F#m7/C#" chord.

You can’t name a shell off what you kept, you need to figure out the rest of the chord, and the role it’s playing. If the next chord is Dm are you sure your triad isn’t C# A# E? That’ll give you a C# diminished leading into the Dm. Nice and simple.

Allan got it right at post #24. It's called brains.

Christian explained how the A works too. The beauty of jazz is that both options are fine. Personal taste is part of it. Bill Evans and what not…

It's A for fs sake. How can you not know what a 3 note triad is? An even bigger hint is it literally resolves up a 4th to the 4 chord.

What Christian and the others said.

Is this your chart?

So IMO, F#m7/C# is mislabelled. Should be A/C#. Maybe A7/C# if we are interpreting these as cut down four note voicings.

It's not wrong, per se. It's just that if we use one of the other ones, the functional move to A7 to Dm6 is obvious. This makes it MUCH easier to understand. I know what I'd rather see in a big band chart.

C#o7 is a classic substitute. I use both. It's not what's in the dots.

The third chord is a Am/C to my ears, but I see why they'd say C6 in context. I'll allow it. But no-one writes CM6. Confusing. C6 is fine.

Perhaps the dominant of Dm6?

It's Amaj/C# tonicizing the Dminor chord that comes after. It's a dominant passing chord. It's a dominant chord without the 7th which is very common outside of jazz. It is in first inversion which creates a chromatic voice leading in the bass (also very common).

A?

A/C#

As others have said, it's an A triad in first inversion.

To give it a more specific name it seems to me you have to think of what note you would first add to it while maintaining the harmonic flow you have in mind.

And whatever that might be, if you want C# A E and nothing else, and you don't want to specify context, you can write A/C# and that's what you'll get.

Guys ………….. really?

A 3 note triad resolving up a 4th is too much for the forum.

[ragman1]

Ragman, you need to relax and take it easy, I know I'm just a Hobby player, but it's only the chords for Summertime and there are some real wars going on elsewhere. Try to be calm, take a deep breath, chillout man. I suggest, you take up meditation.

Unfortunately for you I'm perfectly calm, thank you. I'm watching someone who has been given all the right answers still going round in a daze asking a whole crowd of people which answer is right.

There's no answer to that. It's up to you to implement the various suggestions and make up your own mind which one is right for you. But you don't appear to be doing it. Page 3 and you still don't know. Not because you haven't been well advised but because you're not trying it out for yourself and making a decision.

If you choose the C#o then raise the A note to A#/Bb and have done with it. If you like the sound of the repeated A then call it C#mb6 and be done with it too. But at least do something and give us some peace!

[ragman1]

Anyway I'm bored to death now so I'll play it instead. Not Guy's thing but my own.

(I have a feeling that Guy will be dithering over what to call his CAE chord now, if he chooses that one. Should it be A/C# or C#mb6? The solution to that is easy. It's a bridging chord between C and Dm so it should be a C# chord. Calling it A/C# there doesn't make a lot of logical sense so the answer is C#mb6. But I expect he won't believe me so he'll have to go round everybody again now checking up... lordy, lordy :-))

I did a nice chord at the end which I just made up: xo4554. That's an AmM7/6. With treble notes on top. Enjoy.

[kris]

A/C#

progression
C6 A/C# Dm6


I think so

[Christian Miller]

I played the chart and thought he might have been open to a nice and simple resolution. C#°7 to Dm is a basic Barry Harris move.

I didn’t mean to imply he was wrong. Just that if the A is A#, you get a diminished approach chord to Dm and Bobs your uncle.

I like simple answers that uncomplicate my question. So I look for those solutions.

I’m confused. You seem to be saying A/C# is more complicated?


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[Christian Miller]

Anyway I'm bored to death now so I'll play it instead. Not Guy's thing but my own.

(I have a feeling that Guy will be dithering over what to call his CAE chord now, if he chooses that one. Should it be A/C# or C#mb6? The solution to that is easy. It's a bridging chord between C and Dm so it should be a C# chord. Calling it A/C# there doesn't make a lot of logical sense so the answer is C#mb6. But I expect he won't believe me so he'll have to go round everybody again now checking up... lordy, lordy :-))

I did a nice chord at the end which I just made up: xo4554. That's an AmM7/6. With treble notes on top. Enjoy.

I’m a Generalbaß fundamentalist as much as the next weirdo, but in 2026 it is generally understood that the bass note can be different to the root note.

I think we can deal with an inverted A chord going to Dm.

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[ragman1]

A/C# is more complicated?

It probably is actually when you can just stick a C#o in. I mean, what is all this about? It's just a little bass comp thing for Summertime. Very nice too.

[ragman1]

the bass note can be different to the root note.

Oh, trust me, I really, seriously, don't give a twopenny @*%@.

I’m a Generalbaß fundamentalist

I believe it. You can probably get cream for it.

[Christian Miller]

It probably is actually when you can just stick a C#o in. I mean, what is all this about? It's just a little bass comp thing for Summertime. Very nice too.

I dunno, going in blind my assumption is he wanted to know what the chord he wrote is called.


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[ragman1]

It didn't actually matter, it was a mistake. I'd love to believe he was thinking about A/C# or tonicization or whatever it's called but he didn't. He just forgot to raise the A to Bb to make a dim sound. Poor chap.

By the way, don't think I don't appreciate your super-smart deep theoretical knowledge, I do, but you will keep intruding it into simple situations that don't require it. It's like someone asking how to fix up some shelves and getting an in-depth lecture on advanced structural mechanics.

If you know what I mean.

[Mick-7]

It's passing chord, but what is the chord name for C#-A-E ?

If it's a passing chord, I'd call it Joe.... or Charlie, if it passes out.

[pamosmusic]

It probably is actually when you can just stick a C#o in. I mean, what is all this about? It's just a little bass comp thing for Summertime. Very nice too.

wtf

[pamosmusic]

By the way, don't think I don't appreciate your super-smart deep theoretical knowledge, I do, but you will keep intruding it into simple situations that don't require it. It's like someone asking how to fix up some shelves and getting an in-depth lecture on advanced structural mechanics.

It’s literally an A chord.

Is this thread a punishment for something I did wrong in a past life?

[CliffR]

I'm waiting for the definitive ChatGPT answer.

[Strat-itis]

I'm waiting for the definitive ChatGPT answer.

It takes humans to be this ridiculous.

[ragman1]

It's not ridiculous to Guy, his comping idea is important to him.

[Mick-7]

It's not ridiculous to Guy, his comping idea is important to him.

Yes, we all know that it will sound completely different if the chords are given incorrect names.

[GuyBoden]

After all this fuss, I've given up on working on my Summertime chart.

And, so again we'll have to use these types of charts:

[garybaldy]

No leading note to the iv in this version.

[Christian Miller]

It didn't actually matter, it was a mistake. I'd love to believe he was thinking about A/C# or tonicization or whatever it's called but he didn't. He just forgot to raise the A to Bb to make a dim sound. Poor chap.

By the way, don't think I don't appreciate your super-smart deep theoretical knowledge, I do, but you will keep intruding it into simple situations that don't require it. It's like someone asking how to fix up some shelves and getting an in-depth lecture on advanced structural mechanics.

If you know what I mean.

My super smart theoretical knowledge of being able to recognise an A triad with - oh my god get this - the THIRD IN THE BASS?

And then to be robustly informed that this makes me some sort of ivory tower academic or something?

I don't know what to say. I can be accused of the latter quite often, but here it just seems like you are pulling me leg.

[Christian Miller]

It’s literally an A chord.

Is this thread a punishment for something I did wrong in a past life?

No. It has been decided that you have too many neurons, and it's time to get rid of some by reading this thread.

[Christian Miller]

After all this fuss, I've given up on working on my Summertime chart.

And, so again we'll have to use these types of charts:

My goodness, and people accuse me of making things complicated.

[GuyBoden]

A/C#, these three note chords are widely used and I was taught them by Trefor Owen over 30 years ago.

Below, from the book, "Three-Note Voicings by Randy Vincent", the book adds more complexity to three note chords, it's a book I've learnt from for over 20 years. A great three note chord book IMHO.





Forgive me for using the wrong chord name, I sometimes forget.

[Strat-itis]

My super smart theoretical knowledge of being able to recognise an A triad with - oh my god get this - the THIRD IN THE BASS?

[pamosmusic]

Can you imagine if Jordan Klemons saw this thread?