Here is a chart I typed out for a student who is also
learning Piano. The chord formulars are a handy thing to know
when playing appregios and chordal progressions. The formulars
are workd out using the Major Scale in the key of the chord you
are playing. For example, the C scale has no sharps or flats, so
it is easier to explain in the key of C. The C major scale notes
are: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. The Major chord fomular is 1 3 5,
so using the C Major scale, the C chord would be C (1) E (3) &
G (5).
The C scale numbered to make working easier:
(1)C (2)D (3)E (4)F (5)G (6)A (7)B (8)C
Chord Name Chord Formula Examples
Major 1 3 5 C: C E G
Suspended 1 4 5 Csus: C F G
Major add Ninth 1 3 5 9 Cadd9: C E G D
Minor 1 b3 5 Cm: C Eb G
Augmented 1 3 5# Caug: C E G#
Major Sixth 1 3 5 6 C6: C E G A
Minor Sixth add Ninth 1 3b 5 6 9 Cm6/9: C Eb G A D
Dominant Seventh 1 3 5 7b C7: C E G B
Seventh Suspended 1 4 5 7b C7sus: C F G Bb
Minor Seventh 1 3b 5 7b Cm7: C Eb G Bb
Diminished Seventh 1 3b 5b 7bb Cdim: C Eb Gb Bbb A*
Major Seventh 1 3 5 7 Cmaj7: C E G B
Minor Major Seventh 1 3b 5 7 Cm(maj7): C Eb G B
Ninth 1 3 5 7b 9 C9: C E G Bb D
Minor Ninth 1 3b 5 7b 9 Cm9: C Eb G Bb D
Major Ninth 1 3 5 7 9 Cmaj9: C E G B D
Eleventh |