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.
