| Triads(3-note chords) |
| Maj |
1 |
3 |
5 |
| min |
1 |
b3 |
5 |
| dim |
1 |
b3 |
b5 |
| aug |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
| sus2 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
| sus4 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| 4-note Minor Chords | 5-note Minor Chords |
| m6 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
6 |
|
|
m6/9 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
6 |
9 |
| madd9 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
9 |
|
|
m9 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
b7 |
9 |
| m7 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
b7 |
|
|
m/maj9 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
7 |
9 |
| m/maj7 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
7 |
|
|
m9b5 |
1 |
b3 |
b5 |
b7 |
9 |
| 4-note Major Chords | 5-note Major Chords |
| maj6 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
6 |
|
|
6/9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
6 |
9 |
| maj7 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
7 |
|
|
maj9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
7 |
9 |
| maj7#5 |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
7 |
|
|
maj7#11 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
7 |
#11 |
| add 9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
9 |
|
|
maj9sus |
1 |
4 |
(5) |
7 |
9 |
| 4-note Dominant Chords | 5-note Dominant Chords |
| 7 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
|
|
9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
9 |
| 7b5 |
1 |
3 |
b5 |
b7 |
|
|
9#5 |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
b7 |
9 |
| 7#5 |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
b7 |
|
|
9sus4 |
1 |
4 |
(5) |
b7 |
9 |
| 7sus4 |
1 |
4 |
(5) |
b7 |
|
|
7b9sus |
1 |
4 |
(5) |
b7 |
b9 |
| Diminished Chords |
|
7b9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
b9 |
| dim |
1 |
b3 |
b5 |
|
|
|
7#9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
#9 |
| m7b5 |
1 |
b3 |
b5 |
b7 |
|
|
7#11 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
#11 |
| m9b5 |
1 |
b3 |
b5 |
b7 |
9 |
|
7b5b9 |
1 |
3 |
b5 |
b7 |
b9 |
| dim7 |
1 |
b3 |
b5 |
bb7=6 |
|
|
7b5#9 |
1 |
3 |
b5 |
b7 |
#9 |
| Augmented Chords |
|
7#5#9 |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
b7 |
#9 |
| aug |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
|
|
|
7#5b9 |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
b7 |
b9 |
| 7+ |
1 |
3 |
#5 |
b7 |
|
|
7b13 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
b13 |
| 6 and 7-note Chords |
| Minor Chords |
| m11 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
b7 |
(9) |
11 |
|
| m13 |
1 |
b3 |
(5) |
b7 |
(9) |
(11) |
13 |
| Major Chords |
| maj9#11 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
7 |
9 |
#11 |
|
| maj13 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
7 |
(9) |
13 |
|
| maj13#11 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
7 |
(9) |
#11 |
13 |
| Dominant Chords |
| 9#11 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
9 |
#11 |
|
| 9b13 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
9 |
b13 |
|
| 13b9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
b9 |
13 |
|
| 13#9 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
#9 |
13 |
|
| 13sus4 |
1 |
4 |
(5) |
b7 |
(9) |
13 |
|
| 13 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
(9) |
13 |
|
| 13#11 |
1 |
3 |
(5) |
b7 |
(9) |
#11 |
13 |
| notes in parentheses ( ) are optional for all tables |
General Rules
the most important notes: root or 1st (= chord identity), 3rd (= quality of maj or min), and 7th (= function)
the upper extensions or color tones ( = 9, 11, and 13) should always be included if indicated in chord name
any altered note ( = b5, #5, b9, #9, #11, b13) ) should also be included when indicated
any chord can be defined by the 1st, 3rd, 7th, upper extension, and altered note = 5 notes maximum
Root or 1 can be excluded if played by Bass, so 4 notes are all you need for any big chord
for 6th chords use the 6th instead of the 7th
What Strings Should Be Used? In General:
Bass is king and should go on either of the bottom 2 strings ( string 6 or string 5)
the 3 or 7 ( or 6) go on either of the middle strings ( string 4 or string 3)
upper extensions and altered notes go on top 2 strings ( string 2 and string 1)
remember: this is not written in stone, experimentation can lead to good things
Least Important Notes: G13 chord example
G13 = 1_3_5_b7_9_11_13 = G_B_D_F_A_C_E = 7 notes = chordscale
5 = first note to go because it doesn't define the chord (1_5 = P5 = is the same in all chords)
11 = next to go because it clashes with the 3rd
9 = next to go, it only adds color
G13 = 1_3_b7_13 where1_3= M3rd1_b7= m73_b7 = TRITONE 1_13 = M13 = upper extension called for in chord name
