Chord Types and Symbols Reference Material

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	Chord Types and Symbols

	Here is a table showing the common chords and their associated chord symbols as they might appear above the melody in a song- or fake-book, or in guitar tablature. See below for examples and an explanation of how chords are formed.

Chord Symbol (using C as root)	Chord Type	Example
C or CM	Major triad	CEG
Cm or C-	minor triad	CEbG
CM7, CMaj7 or C∆	Major seventh	CEGB
Cm7 or C-7	minor seventh	CEbGBb
Cm7b5 or C-7b5 or Co7	minor seventh with flat fifth (or half-diminished)	CEbGbBb
C7	Dominant seventh	CEGBb
CM9 or CMaj9	Major ninth	CEGBD
Cm9 or C-9	minor ninth	CEbGBbD
Cm7b5b9	minor seventh with flat fifth and flat ninth	CEbGbBbDb
C9	Dominant ninth	CEGBbD
C7b9	Dominant with flat ninth	CEGBbDb
C11	Dominant eleventh	CEGBbDF
C7#11	Dominant with sharp eleven	CEGBbDF#
Cdim or Co	diminished triad	CEbGb
Cdim7 or Co7	diminished seventh	CEbGbA
Caug or C+	Augmented triad	CEG#
Caug7 or C+7	Augmented seventh	CEG#Bb

Key Signatures

Scales and Modes

How to Transpose

	How Chords are Formed and Named

	Chords are three or more notes sounded together. It's important to have an understanding of chord types because they form the harmonic structure of a composition. For the songwriter, composer or improviser they are the essential tools for building your work. A simple three-note chord is called a triad; formed by combining the first, third and fifth notes of a scale. The name of the chord is based on this first note or root. When this note is the bottom or bass note the triad is in 'root position'; when the third is in the bass the chord is in the 'first inversion'; when the fifth is the bass note the chord is in 'second inversion'.

When the seventh note of a scale is added to a triad the result is called a seventh chord and a 7 is placed after the chord name; thus a C Major triad (CEG) becomes a C Major 7 (CEGB).

If sixth, ninth or eleventh scale tones are added to the triad this is also reflected in the name of the chord. When only a number 7, 9, etc. appears after the chord name it is assumed that the basic four note chord is a dominant seventh chord, i.e. the seventh note of the scale is flatted. Thus C7 is CEGBb, and C9 is CEGBbD.

Often the composer will omit a chord tone, but the chord symbol (which indicates the basic harmonic structure) will remain unchanged.

When 'dim' or 'o'(diminished) appears after the chord name both the third and fifth are lowered one half-step. Cdim or Co is formed CEbGb. The scale to accompany a diminished chord is formed by alternating half-steps and whole steps. This is called the diminished scale (CDEbFGbAbABC).

If 'aug' or '+' (augmented) appears, the fifth is raised one half-step. Thus Caug or C+ is formed CEG#. The associated scale is composed only of whole steps and is called the whole tone scale (CDEF#G#A#C).

In modern usage 'sus' (suspended) refers to a chord in which the fourth has been substituted for the third. Csus or Csus4 is formed CFG.

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