Chords consisting of three notes (triads)
Triads consist of a root, a third and a fifth. This means that if you play the first(root), third and fifth
note of any scale
at the same time, a triad will sound. Since on this page I don't want to go into scales I use the
distance between notes and an "example-triad" with a "C"-root (i.e.: chord-symbols that start with
"C").
MAJOR TRIAD (Chord-symbol: C)
A major triad is made up of:
the root: C
the major third, two whole tones up: E
the perfect fifth, three-and-half tones above the root: G
Some other examples would be:
A C# E, Eb G Bb or F# A# C#.
Obviously the major triad is called a major triad because of the major third.
MINOR TRIAD (Chord-symbol: Cm)
A minor triad is made up of:
the root: C
the minor third, one-and-a-half tones up: Eb
the perfect fifth, three-and-half tones above the root: G
Some other examples would be:
A C E, Eb Gb Bb or F# A C#.
Again the minor triad finds its name in the minor third!
DIMINISHED TRIAD (Chord-symbol: C)
A diminished triad is made up of:
the root: C
the minor third, one-and-a-half tones up: Eb
the diminished fifth, three whole tones above the root: Gb
Some other examples would be:
A C Eb, Eb Gb A or F# A C.
The dimished triad finds its name in the diminished fifth!
AUGMENTED TRIAD (Chord-symbol: C+)
A diminished triad is made up of:
the root: C
the major third, two whole tones up: E
the augmented fifth, four whole tones above the root: G#
Some other examples would be:
A C# F, Eb G B or F# A# D.
The augmented triad finds its name in the augmented fifth!
That's all there is to it. As you can see, understanding triads is an easy matter. I have chosen to
use simple notenames; for example I used the F in stead of the E# in the A-augmented example.
I strongly believe this makes things a lot easier to follow. If you do not have problem with it: fine. If
you do, please: don't send me E-mail about it!
Chords consisting of four notes
I will explain these chords from small to large, i.e.: from the chord consisting of the smallest
intervals to the chord consisting of the largest intervals.
DIMINISHED CHORD(7) (Chord symbol: C(7))
The diminished chord or dim-chord consists of minor thirds:
the root: C
the minor third: Eb
the diminishedfifth: Gb
the diminishedseventh: A
Note that an Eb-dim chord essentially has the same notes as the C-dim, only the root is an Eb,
the third a Gb, the fifth an A and the seventh a C. Naturally a Gb-dim and the A-dim chord also
consist of the same notes. This because minor thirds on top of each other always leads back to
the same notes (try it at the piano). A D-dim consisting of D F Ab B is also a F, Ab and B-dim.
HALF-DIMINISHED CHORD (Chord symbol: Cm7b5)
The half-diminished chord consists of a dim-triad with a minor seventh, i.e.: only the fifth is
diminished
the root: C
the minor third: Eb
the diminished fifth: Gb
the minor seventh, five whole tones above the root: Bb
Some other examples would be:
A C Eb G, Eb Gb A Db or F# A C E.
MINOR SIXTH CHORD (Chord symbol: Cm6)
The minor sixth chord consists of a minor triad with a major sixth.
the root: C
the minor third: Eb
the perfect fifth: G
the major sixth, four-and-a-half tones above the root: A
Some other examples would be:
A C E F#, Eb Gb Bb C or F# A C# D#.
MINOR SEVENTH CHORD (Chord symbol: Cm7)
The minor seventh chord consists of a minor triad with a minor seventh.
the root: C
the minor third: Eb
the perfect fifth: G
the minor seventh: Bb
Some other examples would be:
A C E G, Eb Gb Bb Db or F# A C# E.
MINOR MAJOR SEVENTH CHORD (Chord symbol: CmMaj7)
The minor major seventh chord consists of a minor triad with a major seventh.
the root: C
the minor third: Eb
the perfect fifth: G
the major seventh: B
Some other examples would be:
A C E G#, Eb Gb Bb D or F# A C# E#.
SIXTH CHORD (Chord symbol: C6)
The sixth chord consists of a major triad with a major sixth.
the root: C
the major third: E
the perfect fifth: G
the major sixth: A
Some people refer to this chord as "Cmajorsix". This also correct, but it can create some
confusion (see "major seventh").
Some other examples would be:
A C# E F#, Eb G Bb C or F# A# C# D#.
SEVENTH CHORD (Chord symbol: C7)
The seventh chord consists of a major triad with a minor seventh.
the root: C
the major third: E
the perfect fifth: G
the minor seventh: Bb
Never refer to this chord as "Cmajorseven". This is the confusion I mentioned before.
Some other examples would be:
A C# E G, Eb G Bb Db or F# A# C# E.
MAJOR SEVENTH CHORD (Chord symbol: CMaj.7)
The major seventh chord consists of a major triad with a major seventh.
the root: C
the major third: E
the perfect fifth: G
the major seventh: B
There is obviously a big difference between a seventh and a major seventh chord. Therefore try
to avoid using the word "major" when referring to the triad of the chord. When in a chord symbol
"major" or "minor" is not specified it is always a major triad. The word "major" in "Cmajorseven"
is to specify a major seven instead of a minor seven.
Some other examples would be:
A C# E G#, Eb G Bb D or F# A# C# E#.
