During this section I show you how to create eleven different types of chord. I'm believing that once we've covered these 11, you'll then be able to go on to work out how to play any chord you wish.
There are seven notes with different names in a major scale e.g.
C, D, E, F, G, A, B
However we usually state that there are eight notes in the major scale, as we tend to start and finish a scale on a root note e.g.
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
...to give it resolution.
The second C is the same note, in that it is also a C, however it has a higher pitch than the one we started on, as it is in the next octave - and in that way it is different.
This explains how C2 and C9 are different chords - yet have the same notes (C, D, E, G and C, E, G, D).
It's a lot like how 'NUB' and 'BUN' relate to each other in the English language (same components, different order)....and is also why C13 is not a C6.
So, to summarise, take a major scale - I'll use the example of G major - repeat it and number it as follows:
Take the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes, and we have a basic major chord:
G B D = G major, normally written as G
If you want a minor chord flatten the 3rd:
G Bflat D = G minor, normally written as Gm
For a 2nd chord, add the 2nd:
G A B D = G second, normally written as G2
G A Bflat D = G minor second, normally written as Gm2
For a 4th, add the 4th:
G B C D = G major fourth, normally written as G4
G Bflat C D = G minor fourth, normally written as Gm4
If you want to create a sus chord, suspend (take away) the 3rd and add the 2nd or the 4th in it's place:
G A D = Gsus2
G C D = Gsus4
NOTE: The lack of a 3rd means that these are neither major nor minor - and in that way they are similar to a power chord (which consists of 1st and 5th only)
So there are several chords that are neither major nor minor. This results in a group of chords that are great to use if you want to change what's going on, because they are very 'non-committal'.
To create a major seventh, add the seventh note to the major chord:
G B D F# = G major seventh, normally written as G triangle by hand - or Gmaj7 onscreen
To create a minor seventh, add the flattened seventh note to the minor chord:
G Bflat D F = G minor seventh, normally written as Gm7
To create a dominant seventh, add the flattened seventh note to the major chord:
G B D F = G dominant seventh, normally written as G7
There are seven notes with different names in a major scale e.g.
C, D, E, F, G, A, B
However we usually state that there are eight notes in the major scale, as we tend to start and finish a scale on a root note e.g.
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
...to give it resolution.
The second C is the same note, in that it is also a C, however it has a higher pitch than the one we started on, as it is in the next octave - and in that way it is different.
This explains how C2 and C9 are different chords - yet have the same notes (C, D, E, G and C, E, G, D).
It's a lot like how 'NUB' and 'BUN' relate to each other in the English language (same components, different order)....and is also why C13 is not a C6.
So, to summarise, take a major scale - I'll use the example of G major - repeat it and number it as follows:
| G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | G | A | B | C | D | E | F# | etc |
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | etc |
Take the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes, and we have a basic major chord:
G B D = G major, normally written as G
If you want a minor chord flatten the 3rd:
G Bflat D = G minor, normally written as Gm
For a 2nd chord, add the 2nd:
G A B D = G second, normally written as G2
G A Bflat D = G minor second, normally written as Gm2
For a 4th, add the 4th:
G B C D = G major fourth, normally written as G4
G Bflat C D = G minor fourth, normally written as Gm4
If you want to create a sus chord, suspend (take away) the 3rd and add the 2nd or the 4th in it's place:
G A D = Gsus2
G C D = Gsus4
NOTE: The lack of a 3rd means that these are neither major nor minor - and in that way they are similar to a power chord (which consists of 1st and 5th only)
So there are several chords that are neither major nor minor. This results in a group of chords that are great to use if you want to change what's going on, because they are very 'non-committal'.
To create a major seventh, add the seventh note to the major chord:
G B D F# = G major seventh, normally written as G triangle by hand - or Gmaj7 onscreen
To create a minor seventh, add the flattened seventh note to the minor chord:
G Bflat D F = G minor seventh, normally written as Gm7
To create a dominant seventh, add the flattened seventh note to the major chord:
G B D F = G dominant seventh, normally written as G7
NOTE: This page contains excerpts from my 'All You Need To Know About Chords' Ebook.
Related Posts: Which chords go well together?