Knowing how chord formulas work and knowing the notes on the

What is a Chord Formula?

strings is the ultimate combination.

Chord formulas reveals the chord structure. It shows all the notes
that are played in a chord, in other words, which specific notes

Lets see what you can do with chord formulas:

make up a particular chord.

Learn how to make your own chords.

The notes in a chord are taken from the major scale.

Figure out how to play a chord when you only have the name of

The notes of the major scale are referred to as numbers 1 2 3 4 5

a chord.

6 7 and 8 (=1)

Understanding the difference between chords like Dom7, Maj7

and min7.

Example:

Make a chord easier to play if your pinky cant reach for the

The notes below are from the C major scale referred as number 1

major 7 or any other nasty note.

through 8.

Quickly turn a G major chord into Gsus4, G7, Gmaj7, G13 or any
other variation you think of.

CDEFGABC

Learn to see how easy it is to change from major to minor or any

12345678

other chord.

From 8 the notes repeat only an octave higher: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Apply the knowledge to your rhythm playing, songwriting,

and 13.

soloing and improvisation.

8 = 1 (C)

Discover how it relates to every aspect of guitar playing as your

9 = 2 (D)

knowledge expands over time.

10 = 3 (E)
11 = 4 (F)

12 = 5 (G)

Building a Major Chord

13 = 6 (A)

To build a chord we need the chord formula and the major scale.
Lets build a C major chord.

Here below you can pick a major scale key for the chords were
going to build in the next section.

The chord formula for a Major chord = 1 3 5

C major scale = C D E F G A B C

Major Scales in Every Key:

A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A

Now take the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. Playing

Bb major scale = Bb C D Eb F G A Bb

these notes simultaneously will result in a major chord. That

B major scale = B C# D# E F# G# A# B

means a C major chord consists of the notes: C E G (1 3 5)

C major scale = C D E F G A B C
Db major scale = Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db

You might wonder, How can you hear only three notes when

D major scale = D E F# G A B C# D

there are six strings on the guitar? Well some notes in a chord

Eb major scale = Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb

appear twice. When you strum a C major chord you hear the

E major scale = E F# G# A B C# D# E

following notes from the low E-string all the way to the high E-

F major scale = F G A Bb C D E F

string.:

Gb major scale = Gb Ab Bb Cb (=B) Db Eb F Gb

G major scale = G A B C D E F# G

Low E string = mute

Ab major scale = Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

A string = C note
D string = E note
G string = G note

B string = C note

The chord formula for a Minor chord = 1 b3 5.

high E-string = E note

A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A

Check out some other major chord examples:

b3 (flat three) means you take the third note of the major scale

A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A

only a half step down. The third note of the A major scale is C#,

A major chord = A C# E (1 3 5)

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)

G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
G major chord = G B D (1 3 5)

Building a Maj7 Chord

One last example: Gmaj7

The chord diagrams below show where notes are on the strings:

G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
Maj7 chord formula = 1 3 5 7
Gmaj7 = G B D F#

OTHER CHORD FORMULAS

Below you can see the most common chords and their chord
formulas. Ive taken the C root as example for all the chord
Building a Minor Chord

names.

Lets take the A minor chord for this example.

Chord name = chord formula | C root + chord name

Common Chord Types:

Major Seven Sharp Eleventh = 1 3 5 7 #11 | Cmaj7#11

Major = 1 3 5 | C or Cmaj

Major Flat Five = 1 3 b5 | Cb5

Minor = 1 b3 5 | Cm, Cmin, CSuspended Second = 1 2 5 | Csus2

Minor Formulas:

Suspended Fourth = 1 4 5 | Csus4

Minor = 1 b3 5 | Cm, Cmin, C-

Added ninth = 1 3 5 9 | Cadd9

Minor Sixth = 1 b3 5 6 | Cm6, Cmin6, C-6

Dominant Seventh = 1 3 5 b7 | C7, Cdom7

Minor Seventh = 1 b3 5 b7 | Cm7, Cmin7, C-7

Major Seventh = 1 3 5 7 | Cmaj7

Minor Added Ninth = 1 b3 5 9 | Cmadd9

Minor Seventh = 1 b3 5 b7 | Cm7, Cmin7, C-7

Minor Six Add Nine = 1 b3 5 6 9 | Cm6/9

Minor ninth = 1 b3 5 b7 9 | Cm9

Major Formulas:

Minor eleventh = 1 b3 5 b7 (9) 11 | Cm11

Major = 1 3 5 | C or Cmaj

Minor thirteenth = 1 b3 5 b7 (9) (11) 13 | Cm13

Major Sixth = 1 3 5 6 | C6, Cmaj6

Minor Major Seventh = 1 b3 5 7 | Cm(Maj7)

Six Nine = 1 3 5 6 9 | C6/9

Minor Major Ninth = 1 b3 5 7 9 | Cm(Maj9)

Added ninth = 1 3 5 9 | Cadd9

Minor Major Eleventh = 1 b3 5 7 (9) 11 | Cm(Maj11)

Major Seventh = 1 3 5 7 | Cmaj7

Minor Major Thirteenth = 1 b3 5 7 (9) (11)

Major Seventh Flat Five = 1 3 b5 7 | Cmaj7b5

13 | Cm(Maj13)

Major Seventh Sharp Five = 1 3 #5 7 | Cmaj7#5

Minor Seven Flat Five = 1 b3 b5 b7 | Cm7b5

Major Ninth = 1 3 5 7 9 | Cmaj9

Major Eleventh = 1 3 5 7 (9) 11 | Cmaj11

Dominant Formulas:

Major Thirteenth = 1 3 5 7 (9) (11) 13 | Cmaj13

Dominant Seventh = 1 3 5 b7 | C7, Cdom7

Ninth = 1 3 5 b7 9 | C9

Augmented Seventh = 1 3 #5 b7 | Caug7, C7#5, C7+

Elventh = 1 (3) 5 b7 (9) 11 | C11

Fifth, Power Chord = 1 5 | C5

Thirtheenth = 1 3 5 b7 (9) (11) 13 | C13

Flat Fifth = 1 b5 | Cb5, C-, C-5

Seven Sharp Five = 1 3 #5 b7 | C7#5

Suspended Second = 1 2 5 | Csus2

Seven Flat Five = 1 3 b5 b7 | C7b5

Suspended Fourth = 1 4 5 | Csus4

Seven Flat Ninth = 1 3 5 b7 b9 | C7b9

Seven Sharp Ninth = 1 3 5 b7 #9 | C7#9

Assignments

Nine Sharp Five = 1 3 #5 b7 9 | C9#5

1 What are the notes of an Am7 chord?

Nine Flat Five = 1 3 b5 b7 9 | C9b5

(Use the A major scale and Minor Seventh formula)

Seven Sharp Five Sharp Nine = 1 3 #5 b7 #9 | C7#5#9

Seven Sharp Five Flat Nine = 1 3 #5 b7 b9 | C7#5b9

2 Draw an Am7 chord diagram and write down the notes that

Seven Flat Five Sharp Nine = 1 3 b5 b7 #9 | Cb5#9

are played on each string.

Seven Flat Five Flat Nine = 1 3 b5 b7 b9 | C7b5b9

(check the most common types of 7th chords)

Seven Sharp Eleven = 1 3 5 b7 #11 | C7#11

3 Check if the notes from the chord formula and the notes in the
Miscellaneous Formulas:

chord diagram correspond.

Diminished = 1 b3 b5 | Cdim
Diminished Seventh = 1 b3 b5 bb7 | Cdim7

4 Now build a G diminished seventh chord.(Go through steps 1

Half diminished = 1 b3 b5 b7 | Cm7b5

to 3)

Suspended Seventh = 1 4 5 b7 | C7sus4, C7sus

Augmented = 1 3 #5 | Caug, C+

5 Play a random chord on your guitar. Use the appropriate chord

6 Write down the formulas for a Maj7, Dom7 and Min7 chord.

formula and check

What they have in common and what are their differences?

if all the notes from the chord on your guitar correspond with the
notes from the chord formula.

7 Start with memorizing the formulas common chord types.

5 Write down the difference between a major chord and a minor

Enjoy building your chords!

chord formula?