6.33Don't confuse complexity with function

A sophisticated chord may still perform a simple job.

For example:

G7♭9

looks much more complicated than G7.

But in C it may still simply mean:

dominant → tonic

So when later we encounter:

• G9
• G13
• G7♭9
• G7♯5
• D♭7 as tritone substitute

the first question remains:

What job is this chord doing?

Complex chord spelling becomes much easier when function is clear.