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Extra Chord Forming Guide

Forming Chords
Type of Chord	Chord Structure
Major Triad	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a major scale
Minor Triad	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a minor scale
Diminished Triads	1st (root) + flatted 3rd (b3) + flatted 5th (b5) notes of a major scale
Augmented Triads	1st (root) + 3rd + sharped 5th (#5th) notes of a major scale.
Major 7th Chord	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + 7th notes of a major scale
Minor 7th Chord	1st (root) + flatted 3rd (b3) + 5th + flatted 7th (b7) notes (derived from a major scale)
Dominant 7th Chord	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th (b7) notes of a major scale
Sixth Chord	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + 6th notes of a major or minor scale.
Dominant 9th Chord	add a ninth to a dominant 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th + 9th)
Major 9th Chord	add a ninth to a major 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + 7th + 9th)
Minor 9th Chord	add a ninth to a minor 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th + 9th)
sus2 Chord	1st (root) + 2nd + 5th notes of either a major or minor scale
sus4 Chord	1st (root) + 4th + 5th notes of either a major or minor scale

Correct Way To Name Scales & Chords

When naming a scale one must take notice that every letter must be used as it relates to the piano. The note name come from the first 7 letters of the alphabet (A thru G) and are all used in every scale. depending on the starting note and name, the others are depicted accordingly.

Major Scale Formula is W - W - H - W - W - W- H
Minor Scale Formula is W - H - W - W - H - W - W
(W=Whole Step , H=Half Step)

Example: C Major Scale = C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Example: A Major Scale = A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
Example: F# Major Scale = F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# - F#

Same Concept applies to Minor Scales as well.
Example C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C
Example Eb Minor Scale = Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb
Example B Minor Scale = B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B

Having looked at the rule above an A Major chord is correctly spelled A-C#-E. If a person says A-Db-E, they are talking about the same thing and this is a shortcut used by musicians all of the time but the CORRECT way to dictate an A Major Chord is A-C#-E.

I hope that this clears up how to speak in regards to scales and dictating the correct note names in chords. There are a few note names that seemed funny like E# or Cb but when following the rule they are correctly used so that each scale uses all of the first seven letters of the alphabet.

Chord Formulas and Symbols

Here is a good list of chords that I play all of the time. It is handy in knowing this when playing Lead Sheets or the Fake-Book Chords. Notice the symbol next to the letter which tells you what type of chord.

• Major : 1 3 5 : Example (C)
• Minor: 1 b3 5 : Example (Cm)
• Diminished : 1 b3 b5 : Example (Cdim)
• Augmented: 1 3 #5 : Example (Caug or C+)
• Major 7th: 1 3 5 7 : Example (Cmaj7)
• Dominant 7th : 1 3 5 b7 : Example (C7)
• Minor 7th: 1 b3 5 b7 : Example (Cm7)
• 6th: 1 3 5 6 : Example (C6)
• 9th: 1 2 3 5 : Example (C9)

Extra Note >> b = flat and # = sharp

I also like to use suspensions where I will play the second tone or the 4th tone and then move that note to the 3rd tone to round out the chord. I interchange those all of the time to give the song more color and a different sound. This keeps me from playing the same song the same way. Changing up the chord and inverting it works well also.

Key of Bb

The key of Bb (B flat) has 2 flats

Bb+ C + D + Eb + F + G + A + Bb

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of Ab

The key of Ab (A flat) has 4 flats

Ab + Bb + C + Db + Eb + F + G + Ab

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of F#

The key of F# (F sharp) has 6 sharps

F# + G# + A# + B + C# + D# + E# + F#

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step