PF Leam & Master Guitar “If 1 don't practice one day, | know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it.” ~ Jascha Helfetz - World Renowned Violinist Chord Formulas and Abbreviations The notes to any chord can be found by using the appropriate formulas and the major scale from the key of the chord. The chart below lists the formulas and abbreviations for almost every chord that you will ever see. A chord can be built from the major scale notes and the correct formula. For example: if the chord is “Cm7’", the formula is 1-b3-5-b7 and the key is “C". So, when we plug in the right scale tones, the notes for a “Cm7" are C-Eb-G-Bb. Chord Formula ‘Example Triads Major 135 c Minor 1-03-5 Cm, C- Augmented §1-3-#5 © Caug, C+ Diminished 1-03-05 Ci, C Tihs Major 7 —1-35-7 CMT, Cmai7, C* Minor 7 4-03-5-b7 Cm7,C-7 Dominant 7* 1-3-5-b7 C7 Augmented 7* 1-3-#5-b7 Caug?, C+7 Half-Dim. 7" 1-03-b5-b7 _Chalf-dim7, OF Diminished 7* 1-09-08-007 Golm7, C* Other Chords TwoChord = 1-2-3-5 c2 Five Chord 1 cs Suspended 1.45 Ceus ‘Sith Chord = 1-3-5-6 cé Minor 6* 1-03-5-6 Cmé6 ‘Siv-Nine Chord 1-3-5-6-9 C69, CY, Altered Chords Chord Formula ‘Example ths Major9” —1-3-5-7-9 CMa, Cmai9, C+ Minor 9° 1-b3-5-07-9 Cm, C- Dominant 9* — 1-3-5-07 co Augmented 9 1-3-#5-07-9 Caug9, C+ 11ths Minor 11" 1-03-5-b7-9-11 Cmin11,Cm11,C- Dominant 11" 1-3- cn 13ths Major 13° Cmaj Minor 13° cmt3, Dominant 13° C13, C Augmented 13° 1-3-#5-b7-9-13 Caugt3, C+ ALTERED CHORDS are chords with chord tones that have been adjusted a half step up or down. The note that is to be adjusted is inside a parenthesis. Any alteration only applies to the note that is inside the parenthesis. 1. C7(b9) chore 2. F-11(b5,D9) cordtines 1 c 3 eS 5 Ch 7 Bb 07 Eb bo Db bo 11 Gb Bb SESSON20 102 ‘Alle Chords You Nee to Know