Knowing how chord formulas work andknowing the notes on the
stringsis the ultimate combination.Lets see what you can do with
chord formulas: Learn how to make your own chords. Figure out how
to play a chord when you only have the name of a chord.
Understanding the difference between chords like Dom7, Maj7 and
min7. Make a chord easier to play if your pinky cant reach for the
major 7 or any other nasty note. Quickly turn a G major chord into
Gsus4, G7, Gmaj7, G13 or any other variation you think of. Learn to
see how easy it is to change from major to minor or any other
chord. Apply the knowledge to your rhythm playing, songwriting,
soloing and improvisation. Discover how it relates to every aspect
of guitar playing as your knowledge expands over time.
What is a Chord Formula?Chord formulas reveals the chord
structure. It shows all the notes that are played in a chord, in
other words, which specific notes make up a particular chord.The
notes in a chord are taken from themajor scale.The notes of the
major scale are referred to as numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8
(=1)Example:The notes below are from the C major scale referred as
number 1 through 8.C D E F G A B C1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8From 8 the notes
repeat only an octave higher: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.8 = 1 (C)9 =
2 (D)10 = 3 (E)11 = 4 (F)12 = 5 (G)13 = 6 (A)Here below you can
pick a major scale key for the chords were going to build in the
next section.Major Scales in Every Key:A major scale = A B C# D E
F# G# ABb major scale = Bb C D Eb F G A BbB major scale = B C# D# E
F# G# A# BC major scale = C D E F G A B CDb major scale = Db Eb F
Gb Ab Bb C DbD major scale = D E F# G A B C# DEb major scale = Eb F
G Ab Bb C D EbE major scale = E F# G# A B C# D# EF major scale = F
G A Bb C D E FGb major scale = Gb Ab Bb Cb (=B) Db Eb F GbG major
scale = G A B C D E F# GAb major scale = Ab Bb C Db Eb F G
AbBuilding a Major ChordTo build a chord we need the chord formula
and the major scale. Lets build a C major chord.The chord formula
for a Major chord = 1 3 5C major scale = C D E F G A B CNow take
the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. Playing these notes
simultaneously will result in a major chord. That means a C major
chord consists of the notes: C E G (1 3 5)You might wonder, How can
you hear only three notes when there are six strings on the guitar?
Well some notes in a chord appear twice. When you strum a C major
chord you hear the following notes from the low E-string all the
way to the high E-string.:Low E string = muteA string = C noteD
string = E noteG string = G noteB string = C notehigh E-string = E
noteCheck out some other major chord examples:A major scale = A B
C# D E F# G# AA major chord = A C# E (1 3 5)G major scale = G A B C
D E F# GG major chord = G B D (1 3 5)The chord diagrams below show
where notes are on the strings:
Building a Minor ChordLets take the A minor chord for this
example.The chord formula for a Minor chord = 1 b3 5.A major scale
= A B C# D E F# G# Ab3 (flat three) means you take the third note
of the major scale only a half step down. The third note of the A
major scale is C#, so if you go down a half step C# becomes C. That
means the notes of the A minor chord consists of the notes A C E (1
b3 5)Building a Maj7 ChordOne last example: Gmaj7G major scale = G
A B C D E F# GMaj7 chord formula = 1 3 5 7Gmaj7 = G B D F#OTHER
CHORD FORMULASBelow you can see the most common chords and their
chord formulas. Ive taken the C root as example for all the chord
names.Chord name = chord formula|C root + chord nameCommon Chord
Types:Major = 1 3 5|C or CmajMinor = 1 b3 5|Cm, Cmin, C-Suspended
Second = 1 2 5|Csus2Suspended Fourth = 1 4 5|Csus4Added ninth = 1 3
5 9|Cadd9Dominant Seventh = 1 3 5 b7|C7, Cdom7Major Seventh = 1 3 5
7|Cmaj7Minor Seventh = 1 b3 5 b7|Cm7, Cmin7, C-7Major
Formulas:Major = 1 3 5|C or CmajMajor Sixth = 1 3 5 6|C6, Cmaj6Six
Nine = 1 3 5 6 9|C6/9Added ninth = 1 3 5 9|Cadd9Major Seventh = 1 3
5 7|Cmaj7Major Seventh Flat Five = 1 3 b5 7|Cmaj7b5Major Seventh
Sharp Five = 1 3 #5 7|Cmaj7#5Major Ninth = 1 3 5 7 9|Cmaj9Major
Eleventh = 1 3 5 7 (9) 11|Cmaj11Major Thirteenth = 1 3 5 7 (9) (11)
13|Cmaj13Major Seven Sharp Eleventh = 1 3 5 7 #11|Cmaj7#11Major
Flat Five = 1 3 b5|Cb5Minor Formulas:Minor = 1 b3 5|Cm, Cmin,
C-Minor Sixth = 1 b3 5 6|Cm6, Cmin6, C-6Minor Seventh = 1 b3 5
b7|Cm7, Cmin7, C-7Minor Added Ninth = 1 b3 5 9|Cmadd9Minor Six Add
Nine = 1 b3 5 6 9|Cm6/9Minor ninth = 1 b3 5 b7 9|Cm9Minor eleventh
= 1 b3 5 b7 (9) 11|Cm11Minor thirteenth = 1 b3 5 b7 (9) (11)
13|Cm13Minor Major Seventh = 1 b3 5 7|Cm(Maj7)Minor Major Ninth = 1
b3 5 7 9|Cm(Maj9)Minor Major Eleventh = 1 b3 5 7 (9)
11|Cm(Maj11)Minor Major Thirteenth = 1 b3 5 7 (9) (11)
13|Cm(Maj13)Minor Seven Flat Five = 1 b3 b5 b7|Cm7b5Dominant
Formulas:Dominant Seventh = 1 3 5 b7|C7, Cdom7Ninth = 1 3 5 b7
9|C9Elventh = 1 (3) 5 b7 (9) 11|C11Thirtheenth = 1 3 5 b7 (9) (11)
13|C13Seven Sharp Five = 1 3 #5 b7|C7#5Seven Flat Five = 1 3 b5
b7|C7b5Seven Flat Ninth = 1 3 5 b7 b9|C7b9Seven Sharp Ninth = 1 3 5
b7 #9|C7#9Nine Sharp Five = 1 3 #5 b7 9|C9#5Nine Flat Five = 1 3 b5
b7 9|C9b5Seven Sharp Five Sharp Nine = 1 3 #5 b7 #9|C7#5#9Seven
Sharp Five Flat Nine = 1 3 #5 b7 b9|C7#5b9Seven Flat Five Sharp
Nine = 1 3 b5 b7 #9|Cb5#9Seven Flat Five Flat Nine = 1 3 b5 b7
b9|C7b5b9Seven Sharp Eleven = 1 3 5 b7 #11|C7#11Miscellaneous
Formulas:Diminished = 1 b3 b5|CdimDiminished Seventh = 1 b3 b5
bb7|Cdim7Half diminished = 1 b3 b5 b7|Cm7b5Suspended Seventh = 1 4
5 b7|C7sus4, C7susAugmented = 1 3 #5|Caug, C+Augmented Seventh = 1
3 #5 b7|Caug7, C7#5, C7+Fifth, Power Chord = 1 5|C5Flat Fifth = 1
b5|Cb5, C-, C-5Suspended Second = 1 2 5|Csus2Suspended Fourth = 1 4
5|Csus4Assignments1 What are the notes of an Am7 chord?(Use the A
major scale and Minor Seventh formula)2 Draw an Am7 chord diagram
and write down the notes that are played on each string.(checkthe
most common types of 7th chords)3 Check if the notes from the chord
formula and the notes in the chord diagram correspond.4 Now build a
G diminished seventh chord.(Go through steps 1 to 3)5 Play a random
chord on your guitar. Use the appropriate chord formula and checkif
all the notes from the chord on your guitar correspond with the
notes from the chord formula.5 Write down the difference between a
major chord and a minor chord formula?6 Write down the formulas for
a Maj7, Dom7 and Min7 chord.What they have in common and what are
their differences?7 Start with memorizing the formulas common chord
types.Enjoy building your chords!
