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How to Use Chord Formulas and Their Benefits MOST POPULAR POSTS

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Why do you need chord

formulas? Why do want to
learn about them in the
first place and what are
their benefits?

Knowing some basic chord

theory can make all the
difference to your playing.
It makes guitar playing
more fun, interesting and a
lot of what you play will
make more sense. The pieces of the puzzle will fall in place.

Knowing how chord formulas work and knowing the notes on the strings is the
ultimate combination.

Let’s see what you can do with chord formulas:

– Learn how to make your own chords.

– Figure out how to play a chord when you only have the name of a chord.
– Understanding the difference between chords like Dom7, Maj7 and min7.
– Make a chord easier to play if your pinky can’t reach for the major 7 or any other
nasty note.
– Quickly turn a G major chord into Gsus4, G7, Gmaj7, G13 or any other variation you
think of.
CATEGORIES
– Learn to see how easy it is to change from major to minor or any other chord.
– Apply the knowledge to your rhythm playing, songwriting, soloing and Fingerpicking
improvisation.
Jazz
– Discover how it relates to every aspect of guitar playing as your knowledge expands
Scales
over time.
Soloing | Improv
Songs
What is a Chord Formula?
Chord formulas reveals the chord structure. It shows all the notes that are played in a Pop of all times

chord, in other words, which specific notes make up a particular chord. Online guitar tools

Rock
The notes in a chord are taken from the major scale. Blues
The notes of the major scale are referred to as numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 and 8 (=1)
Riffs

Country
Example:
Chords
The notes below are from the C major scale referred as number 1 through 8.
Strumming | Rhythm

Gear
C D E F G A B C Best buy
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Christmas
From 8 the notes repeat only an octave higher: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and Licks
13.
Vocals | Singing
8 = 1 (C)
Metal
9 = 2 (D)
Excercise
10 = 3 (E)
Solos
11 = 4 (F)
12 = 5 (G) Ear practice

13 = 6 (A) Ear training

Chord progression
Here below you can pick a major scale key for the chords we're going Intervals
to build in the next section. Arpeggios
Recording
Major Scales in Every Key:
Beginner
A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
Intermediate
Bb major scale = Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
Advanced
B major scale = B C# D# E F# G# A# B
Practice
C major scale = C D E F G A B C
Db major scale = Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db Music theory

D major scale = D E F# G A B C# D Motivation

Eb major scale = Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb Lifestyle Design
E major scale = E F# G# A B C# D# E Songwriting
F major scale = F G A Bb C D E F Performing
Gb major scale = Gb Ab Bb Cb (=B) Db Eb F Gb
Uncategorized
G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
Ab major scale = Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Building a Major Chord

To build a chord we need the chord formula and the major scale. Let's
build a C major chord.

The chord formula for a Major chord = 1 - 3 - 5

C major scale = C D E F G A B C

Now take the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. Playing these
notes simultaneously will result in a major chord. That means a C
major chord consists of the notes: C E G (1 - 3 - 5)

You might wonder, "How can you hear only three notes when there are
six strings on the guitar?" Well some notes in a chord appear twice.
When you strum a C major chord you hear the following notes from the
low E-string all the way to the high E-string.:

Low E string = mute

A string = C note
D string = E note
G string = G note
B string = C note
high E-string = E note

Check out some other major chord examples:

A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
A major chord = A C# E (1 - 3 - 5)

G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
G major chord = G B D (1 - 3 - 5)

The chord diagrams below show where notes are on the strings:

Building a Minor Chord

Let's take the A minor chord for this example.

The chord formula for a Minor chord = 1 - b3 - 5.

A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A

b3 (flat three) means you take the third note of the major scale only
a half step down. The third note of the A major scale is C#, so if
you go down a half step C# becomes C. That means the notes of the A
minor chord consists of the notes A C E (1 - b3 - 5)

Building a Maj7 Chord

One last example: Gmaj7
G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
Maj7 chord formula = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7
Gmaj7 = G B D F#

OTHER CHORD FORMULAS

Below you can see the most common chords and their chord formulas.
I've taken the C root as example for all the chord names.

Chord name = chord formula | C root + chord name

Common Chord Types:

Major = 1 - 3 - 5 | C or Cmaj
Minor = 1 - b3 - 5 | Cm, Cmin, C-
Suspended Second = 1 - 2 - 5 | Csus2
Suspended Fourth = 1 - 4 - 5 | Csus4
Added ninth = 1 - 3 - 5 - 9 | Cadd9
Dominant Seventh = 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 | C7, Cdom7
Major Seventh = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 | Cmaj7
Minor Seventh = 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 | Cm7, Cmin7, C-7

Major Formulas:
Major = 1 - 3 - 5 | C or Cmaj
Major Sixth = 1 - 3 - 5 - 6 | C6, Cmaj6
Six Nine = 1 - 3 - 5 - 6 - 9 | C6/9
Added ninth = 1 - 3 - 5 - 9 | Cadd9
Major Seventh = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 | Cmaj7
Major Seventh Flat Five = 1 - 3 - b5 - 7 | Cmaj7b5
Major Seventh Sharp Five = 1 - 3 - #5 - 7 | Cmaj7#5
Major Ninth = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - 9 | Cmaj9
Major Eleventh = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - (9) - 11 | Cmaj11
Major Thirteenth = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - (9) - (11) - 13 | Cmaj13
Major Seven Sharp Eleventh = 1 - 3 - 5 - 7 - #11 | Cmaj7#11
Major Flat Five = 1 - 3 - b5 | Cb5

Minor Formulas:
Minor = 1 - b3 - 5 | Cm, Cmin, C-
Minor Sixth = 1 - b3 - 5 - 6 | Cm6, Cmin6, C-6
Minor Seventh = 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 | Cm7, Cmin7, C-7
Minor Added Ninth = 1 - b3 - 5 - 9 | Cmadd9
Minor Six Add Nine = 1 - b3 - 5 - 6 - 9 | Cm6/9
Minor ninth = 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 - 9 | Cm9
Minor eleventh = 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 - (9) - 11 | Cm11
Minor thirteenth = 1 - b3 - 5 - b7 - (9) - (11) - 13 | Cm13
Minor Major Seventh = 1 - b3 - 5 - 7 | Cm(Maj7)
Minor Major Ninth = 1 - b3 - 5 - 7 - 9 | Cm(Maj9)
Minor Major Eleventh = 1 - b3 - 5 - 7 - (9) - 11 | Cm(Maj11)
Minor Major Thirteenth = 1 - b3 - 5 - 7 - (9) - (11) - 13 | Cm(Maj13)
Minor Seven Flat Five = 1 - b3 - b5 - b7 | Cm7b5

Dominant Formulas:
Dominant Seventh = 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 | C7, Cdom7
Ninth = 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - 9 | C9
Elventh = 1 - (3) - 5 - b7 - (9) - 11 | C11
Thirtheenth = 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - (9) - (11) - 13 | C13
Seven Sharp Five = 1 - 3 - #5 - b7 | C7#5
Seven Flat Five = 1 - 3 - b5 - b7 | C7b5
Seven Flat Ninth = 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - b9 | C7b9
Seven Sharp Ninth = 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - #9 | C7#9
Nine Sharp Five = 1 - 3 - #5 - b7 - 9 | C9#5
Nine Flat Five = 1 - 3 - b5 - b7 - 9 | C9b5
Seven Sharp Five Sharp Nine = 1 - 3 - #5 - b7 - #9 | C7#5#9
Seven Sharp Five Flat Nine = 1 - 3 - #5 - b7 - b9 | C7#5b9
Seven Flat Five Sharp Nine = 1 - 3 - b5 - b7 - #9 | Cb5#9
Seven Flat Five Flat Nine = 1 - 3 - b5 - b7 - b9 | C7b5b9
Seven Sharp Eleven = 1 - 3 - 5 - b7 - #11 | C7#11

Miscellaneous Formulas:
Diminished = 1 - b3 - b5 | Cdim
Diminished Seventh = 1 - b3 - b5 - bb7 | Cdim7
Half diminished = 1 - b3 - b5 - b7 | Cm7b5
Suspended Seventh = 1 - 4 - 5 - b7 | C7sus4, C7sus
Augmented = 1 - 3 - #5 | Caug, C+
Augmented Seventh = 1 - 3 - #5 - b7 | Caug7, C7#5, C7+
Fifth, Power Chord = 1 - 5 | C5
Flat Fifth = 1 - b5 | Cb5, C-, C-5
Suspended Second = 1 - 2 - 5 | Csus2
Suspended Fourth = 1 - 4 - 5 | Csus4

Assignments
1 - What are the notes of an Am7 chord?
(Use the A major scale and Minor Seventh formula)

2 - Draw an Am7 chord diagram and write down the notes that are
played on each string.
(check the most common types of 7th chords)

3 - Check if the notes from the chord formula and the notes in the
chord diagram correspond.

4 - Now build a G diminished seventh chord.(Go through steps 1 to 3)

5 - Play a random chord on your guitar. Use the appropriate chord

formula and check
if all the notes from the chord on your guitar correspond with the
notes from the chord formula.

5 - Write down the difference between a major chord and a minor chord
formula?

6 - Write down the formulas for a Maj7, Dom7 and Min7 chord.
What they have in common and what are their differences?

7 - Start with memorizing the formulas common chord types.

Enjoy building your chords!

P.S.

Check out the brand new design for 50 COOL BLUES LICKS IMPROVISATION.
It's about time!
LEARN THE LICKS, THE SCALES, THE TRICKS AND HOW TO USE IT FOR
IMPROVISATION.

Have a great one!

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Related Posts:
1. 3 Juicy Blues Chord Progressions to Be Prepared
2. What is a Scale Formula and How to Use it For Guitar
3. Building Scales Using The Whole Half Step Formula
4. Extended Chords 9th 11th 13th for Guitar

Comments
Bartolo says
May 1, 2015 at 8:07 am

Awesome, it´s the most simple and complete explanation of chord building i´ve seen.
How does scales relates chord progressions?
Do all notes in a chord must belong to the scale to sound right?
Thanks a lot!

Klaus Crow says

May 1, 2015 at 10:09 am

Hi Bartolo,

Thanks I appreciate it.

The scale determines which chords to use for a particular scale.

Check out these posts:

https://www.guitarhabits.com/building-chords-and-progressions-of-the-major-scale/
https://www.guitarhabits.com/building-chords-and-progressions-of-the-minor-scale/

Sergej says
June 8, 2015 at 1:04 am

Great post!
Maybe you would fancy to write an article on the general theory of music – like why the scales
are what they are, why most cords have 3 notes etc. would make learning more exciting if one
knew what stands behind the mechanics)
Thx

Kundan Shrestha says

October 2, 2015 at 12:14 pm

awesome …. thank you

tayo says
January 12, 2018 at 2:21 pm

For a start,it is good for a beginner to realize that 1, 4 and 5 carry major chords; 2,3 and 6 carry
minor chords and 7 carries diminished. It works perfectly for almost all songs; its a good
starting point. Well it worked for me.

Steve says
February 6, 2019 at 9:03 am

I understand that if you build a chord on the fourth degree of a major scale you get a major
chord. So using the notes in the C major scale you could make the chord with the notes
FACEGB. This cord follows the formula you have mentioned for a maj11 chord, but I
understand it’s correct name is Fmaj7#11. Could you advise a reason for this apparent
inconsistency. Many thanks. cheers Steve

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