Chords are basically three or more notes taken from the Major scale. These notes can be from the first or second octave of the Major scale.
In the table below we can see that a Major chord is made up of the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the scale, the notes are C, E & G. In this example the chord we make is the C major chord. (Of course if you wanted to make a G major chord you would use the G major scale as your source for notes, the formulas however remain the same.). Note that the 5 chord is really an interval as it only consists of the tonic (1st) & the 5th.
The following table lists all the chord formulas required to make your own chords. After working out which notes are in the chord it is simply a matter of finding a place on the guitar fretboard that lets you play these notes so that the chord sounds good and that is comfortable for your own fingering. It is a lot easier to remember a few chord formulas than to try learning chords out of a 1001 chord book !! Because YOU have worked out the chord for yourself. Not only that but this knowledge is invaluable when you are looking for what scales you can use to improvise over the chords.
Refer to the Intervals Chart to see how easy it is to find many new chords on the fretboard by knowing the Chord Interval Relationships (Chord Formulas) listed below.
Important ! Some notes can be omitted from the chords to enable easier fingering. If the tonic of the chord is being covered by the Bass or the 5th of the chord is unaltered (eg not b5 or #5) they can be left out. Note that 3rds & 7ths should not be left out as they determine whether the chord is major (3rd) or minor (b3rd) or Dominant (b7) or Major (7th). In some cases the 9th can be omitted in 11th or 13th type chords.
Major Chords - Examples using C major Formula Notes C5 1 5 C G C 1 3 5 C E G C 6 1 3 5 6 C E G A C 69 1 3 5 6 9 C E G A D C Major 7 1 3 5 7 C E G B C Major 7b5 1 3 b5 7 C E Gb B C Major 7#11 1 3 5 7 #11 C E G B F# C Major 9 1 3 5 7 9 C E G B D C Major 9b5 1 3 b5 7 9 C E Gb B D C Major 7 add 13 1 3 5 7 13 C E G B A C Major 7 add 13 add 9 1 3 5 7 9 13 C E G B D A
Minor Chords - Examples using C major Formula Notes C minor 1 b3 5 C Eb G C minor add Major 7 1 b3 5 7 C Eb G B C minor 6 1 b3 5 6 C Eb G A C minor 6 add Major 7 1 b3 5 6 7 C Eb G A B C minor 69 1 b3 5 6 9 C Eb G A D C minor 7 1 b3 5 b7 C Eb G Bb C minor 7b5 1 b3 b5 b7 C Eb Gb Bb C minor 7b6 1 b3 5 b6 b7 C Eb G Ab Bb C minor 7 add 11 1 b3 5 b7 11 C Eb G Bb F C minor 7b5 add 11 1 b3 b5 b7 11 C Eb Gb Bb F C minor 7 add 13 1 b3 5 b7 13 C Eb G Bb A C minor 9 1 b3 5 b7 9 C Eb G Bb D C minor 9b5 1 b3 b5 b7 9 C Eb Gb Bb D C minor 9 add Major 7 1 b3 5 7 9 C Eb G B D
Dominant 7th Chords - Examples using C major Formula Notes C7 1 3 5 b7 C E G Bb C7 sus4 1 4 5 b7 C F G Bb C7b5 1 3 b5 b7 C E Gb Bb C7#5 1 3 #5 b7 C E G# Bb C7b9 1 3 5 b7 b9 C E G Bb Db C7#9 1 3 5 b7 #9 C E G Bb D# C7b5b9 1 3 b5 b7 b9 C E Gb Bb Db C7#5#9 1 3 #5 b7 #9 C E G# Bb D# C7b5#9 1 3 b5 b7 #9 C E Gb Bb D# C7#5b9 1 3 #5 b7 b9 C E G# Bb Db C9 1 3 5 b7 9 C E G Bb D C9b5 1 3 b5 b7 9 C E Gb Bb D C9#5 1 3 #5 b7 9 C E G# Bb D C11 1 3 5 b7 9 11 C E G Bb D F C13 1 3 5 b7 9 13 C E G Bb D A C13b5 1 3 b5 b7 9 13 C E Gb Bb D A C13b9 1 3 5 b7 b9 13 C E G Bb Db A
Diminished Chords - Examples using C major Formula Notes C Diminished 1 b3 b5 C Eb Gb C Diminished 7th 1 b3 b5 bb7 (or 6) C Eb Gb Bbb (or A)
Augmented Chords - Examples using C major Formula Notes C Augmented 1 3 #5 C E G# C Augmented 7th 1 3 #5 b7 C E G# Bb C Augmented 9th 1 3 #5 b7 9 C E G# Bb D
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