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Chord formulas reveals the chord structure. It shows all the notes
that are played in a chord, in other words, which specific notes
Figure out how to play a chord when you only have the name of
a chord.
6 7 and 8 (=1)
Example:
Make a chord easier to play if your pinky cant reach for the
The notes below are from the C major scale referred as number 1
through 8.
Quickly turn a G major chord into Gsus4, G7, Gmaj7, G13 or any
other variation you think of.
CDEFGABC
12345678
other chord.
and 13.
8 = 1 (C)
9 = 2 (D)
10 = 3 (E)
11 = 4 (F)
12 = 5 (G)
13 = 6 (A)
To build a chord we need the chord formula and the major scale.
Lets build a C major chord.
Here below you can pick a major scale key for the chords were
going to build in the next section.
Now take the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. Playing
Bb major scale = Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
B major scale = B C# D# E F# G# A# B
C major scale = C D E F G A B C
Db major scale = Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
You might wonder, How can you hear only three notes when
D major scale = D E F# G A B C# D
there are six strings on the guitar? Well some notes in a chord
Eb major scale = Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
appear twice. When you strum a C major chord you hear the
E major scale = E F# G# A B C# D# E
following notes from the low E-string all the way to the high E-
F major scale = F G A Bb C D E F
string.:
Ab major scale = Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
A string = C note
D string = E note
G string = G note
B string = C note
A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
b3 (flat three) means you take the third note of the major scale
A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
only a half step down. The third note of the A major scale is C#,
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:
G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
Maj7 chord formula = 1 3 5 7
Gmaj7 = G B D F#
names.
Major = 1 3 5 | C or Cmaj
Minor Formulas:
Major Formulas:
Major = 1 3 5 | C or Cmaj
13 | Cm(Maj13)
Dominant Formulas:
Ninth = 1 3 5 b7 9 | C9
Assignments
2 Draw an Am7 chord diagram and write down the notes that
Diminished = 1 b3 b5 | Cdim
Diminished Seventh = 1 b3 b5 bb7 | Cdim7
to 3)
6 Write down the formulas for a Maj7, Dom7 and Min7 chord.
if all the notes from the chord on your guitar correspond with the
notes from the chord formula.
chord formula?