Building to Scale

The notes of a chord can also be determined by assigning a numeric formula, indicating the tones from the major scal. For example, based on the C Major Scale, 1-b3-5 would mean play the root (C), a flatted third (Eb), and the fifth (G) - a minor chord.

The Chart below is a construction summary of teh chord types (based on the key of C only):

C major Scale = C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-1)

Chord Type Formula Note Names Chord Names major 1-3-5 C-E-G C minor 1-b3-5 C-Eb-G Cm augmented 1-3-#5 C-E-#G C+ suspended fourth 1-4-5 C-F-G Csus4 added ninth 1-3-5-9 C-E-G-D Cadd9 minor added ninth 1-b3-5-9 C-Eb-G-D Cm(add9) fifth 1-5 C-G C5 sixth 1-3-5-6 C-E-G-A C6 minor sixth 1-b3-5-6 C-Eb-G-A Cm6 sixth, added ninth 1-3-5-6-9 C-E-G-A-D C6/9 minor sixth, added ninth 1-b3-5-6-9 C-Eb-G-A-D Cm6/9 seventh 1-3-5-b7 C-E-G-Bb C7 diminished seventh 1-b3-b5-bb7 C-Eb-Gb-Bbb Co7 seventh, suspended fourth 1-4-5-b7 C-F-G-Bb C7sus4 major seventh 1-3-5-7 C-E-G-B CMaj7 minor seventh 1-b3-5-b7 C-Eb-G-Bb Cm7 minor, major seventh 1-b3-5-7 C-Eb-G-B Cm(Maj7) major seventh, flat fifth 1-3-b5-7 C-E-Gb-B CMaj7(b5) minor seventh, flat fifth 1-b3-b5-b7 C-Eb-Gb-Bb Cm7(b5) augmented seventh 1-b3-#5-b7 C-Eb-G#-Bb C+7 seventh, flat fifth 1-3-b5-b7 C-E-Gb-Bb C7(b5) seventh, flat ninth 1-3-5-b7-b9 C-E-G-Bb-Db C7(b9) seventh, sharp ninth 1-3-5-b7-#9 C-E-G-Bb-D# C7(#9) augmented seventh, flat ninth 1-3-#5-b7-b9 C-E-G#-Bb-Db C+7(b9) ninth 1-3-5-b7-9 C-E-G-Bb-D C9 major ninth 1-3-5-7-9 C-E-G-B-D CMaj9 minor ninth 1-b3-5-b7-9 C-Eb-G-Bb-D Cm9 eleventh 1-3-5-b7-9-11 C-E-G-Bb-D-F C11 minor eleventh 1-b3-5-b7-9-11 C-Eb-G-Bb-D-F Cn11 thirteenth 1-3-5-b7-9-11-13 C-E-G-Bb-D-F-A C13

Notes : Since guitar has only six strings, certain notes must sometimes be left out. And sometimes certain other notes are "doubled" (played twice). In feneral, the fifth and the root are the first two pitches omitted when necessary.