Chord Theory


This table shows which notes make up the chords. Check with the tables for each root note ( 'A' to 'G' ) and form the chords from the notes listed. Any 'spare' notes can be duplicates of those listed to avoid having a non-sounding string. e.g. for a major chord with 3 notes, duplicate one of the notes on the unused string (see chord charts 'A' to 'G'). This is not an exhaustive list of all the chords which can be formed but it is a list of the commonly used ones.

Key:

-

indicates a flattened note

--

means flattened twice

+

indicates a sharpened note

x

means any of the notes of the triad can be repeated


Triads

Power
or
Modal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Major

Minor

Augmented

Diminished

Suspended 4th

5th

6th

7th

Major 7th

Minor 7

Dim7

Add9

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

3

3-

3

3-

4

5

3

3

3

3-

3-

3

5

5

5+

5-

5

1

5

5

5

5

5-

5

x

x

x

x

x

5

6

7-

7

7-

7--

9 (2)