Chord formulas
The most common chord types with their symbol, degree formula and notes on a shared root.
Applied
Content under musical review. It may contain inaccuracies.
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The most common chord types with their symbol, degree formula and notes on a shared root.
Applied
This table shows twenty-four chord types, from triads to sevenths and extensions. Each row gives the name, the symbol, the formula in degrees and the notes built on C. It's a quick reference for reading chord symbols and for understanding what changes from one chord to another.
| Chord type | Symbol | Formula | C |
|---|---|---|---|
| major | C | 1 3 5 | C E G |
| minor | Cm | 1 ♭3 5 | C Eb G |
| diminished | Cdim | 1 ♭3 ♭5 | C Eb Gb |
| augmented | Caug | 1 3 ♯5 | C E G# |
| suspended second | Csus2 | 1 2 5 | C D G |
| suspended fourth | Csus4 | 1 4 5 | C F G |
| fifth (power chord) | C5 | 1 5 | C G |
| major seventh | Cmaj7 | 1 3 5 7 | C E G B |
| dominant seventh | C7 | 1 3 5 ♭7 | C E G Bb |
| minor seventh | Cm7 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 | C Eb G Bb |
| half-diminished (m7♭5) | Cm7♭5 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7 | C Eb Gb Bb |
| diminished seventh | Cdim7 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7 | C Eb Gb Bbb |
| minor-major seventh | Cm(maj7) | 1 ♭3 5 7 | C Eb G B |
| major seventh ♯5 | Cmaj7♯5 | 1 3 ♯5 7 | C E G# B |
| seventh suspended fourth | C7sus4 | 1 4 5 ♭7 | C F G Bb |
| sixth | C6 | 1 3 5 6 | C E G A |
| minor sixth | Cm6 | 1 ♭3 5 6 | C Eb G A |
| six-nine | C6/9 | 1 3 5 6 9 | C E G A D |
| added ninth | Cadd9 | 1 3 5 9 | C E G D |
| minor added ninth | Cmadd9 | 1 ♭3 5 9 | C Eb G D |
| major ninth | Cmaj9 | 1 3 5 7 9 | C E G B D |
| dominant ninth | C9 | 1 3 5 ♭7 9 | C E G Bb D |
| minor ninth | Cm9 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9 | C Eb G Bb D |
| eleventh | C11 | 1 5 ♭7 9 11 | C G Bb D F |