Chord Formulas
Notes - Elementary Rudiments for Guitar - Section 4 - Chords
Chord Formulas and their Extensions
Chords
There are three basic chord formulas.  All
chords are derived from these essential
forms.  By modifying the basic structure of
the major, minor and dominant chords,
more chords are created; these altered
chords are called extensions.
 Chord Formulas and Their Extensions
Major and Minor
Diminished and Augmented
Dominant Seventh

Triads and Key Signatures
Cadences
Polychords
Essential Chords and Synonyms
 Recognizing Chords
Moving Chords a 4th
Circle of 5ths

Voice Leading
Chord Progression
Blues Progressions
"Rock" Progressions
Major Chords
Chord Symbol
 Name
 Formula (Note Intervals)
maj 6
maj 7
maj 9
add 9 or /9
maj 6/9
maj 7/6
maj 13
 Major Chord
Major 6th
Major 7th
Major 9th
Major, added 9th
Major 6/9th
Major 7/6th
Major 13th
 1  3  5
1  3  5  6
1  3  5  7
1  3  5  7  9
1  3  5  9
1  3  5  6  9
1  3  5  6  7
1  3  5  7  9  13
Minor Chords
Chord Symbol
 Name
 Formula (Note Intervals)
m
m6
m7
m9
m11
m7/11
m add 9 or m/9
m 6/9
m maj7

m maj7/9
 minor
minor 6th
monir 7th
minor 9th
minor 11th
minor 7/11
minor added 9th
minor 6/9th
minor major 7th
or minor natural 7th
minor major 9th
 1  b3  5
1  b3  5  6
1  b3  5  b7
1  b3  5  b7  9
1  b3  5  b7  9  11
1  b3  5  b7  11
1  b3  5  9
1  b3  5  6
1  b3  5  7

1  b3  5  7  9
Dominant 7th Chords
Chord Symbol
 Name
 Formula (Note Intervals)
7
7/6
7/11
7 sus
7/6 sus
9
11
13
13 sus
7/6/11
11/13
o
+
 Dominant 7th
Dominant 7/6th
Dominant 7/11th
Dominant 7th suspended
Dominant 7/6th suspended
Dominant 9th
Dominant 11th
Dominant 13th
Dominant 13 suspended
Dominant 7/6/11th
Dominant 11/13th
Diminished 7th
Augmented
 1  3  5  b7
1  3  5  6  b7
1  3  5  b7  11
1  4  5  b7
1  4  5  6  b7
1  3  5  b7  9
1  3  5  b7  9  13
1  4  5  b7  9  13
1  3  5  b7  11  13
1  3  5  b7  9  11 13
1  b3  b5  bb7  (or 6)
1  3  #5

Example: C7b9b5 or C7b5/b9                             Formula: 1  3  b5  b7  b9
C7 Chord with a flatted 5th and added flatted 9th

Diminished and Augmented Chords
These chords do not really fit in the main three families but they have been
traditionally considered and used as dominant chords.

Other Considerations Regarding Tones
Intervals 9, 11 and 13 may be considered to be intervals 2, 4 and 6 or vice versa.  
In other words, chords that use these interval may be written in two ways.

Example: a 7/6 could be written as 1  3  5  b7  13