Chord Construction

Once you have a basic understanding of the major scale you will be able to construct chords from the scale notes. There are 7 notes in a scale each numbered 1 through to 7 called scale degrees.


For example the major scale of C looks like this

C
D
E
F
G
A
B
1
2
3
4
5
6
7


To construct chords we use different formulas using the numbering above.

We’ll see how these formulas work with some simple triads (3 note chords)

The major chord uses the 1st, 3rd and 5th
For C major (C) chord we would use C, E and G

The minor chord uses the 1st, b3rd (flat 3rd) and 5th
For C minor (Cm) we use C, D# and G

The suspended fourth chord uses the 1st, 4th and 5th
For C suspended fourth (Csus4) we use C, F and G

The suspended second chord uses the 1st, 2nd and 5th
For C suspended second (Csus2) we use C, D and G

There are more triads like augmented and diminished chords.
Their formulas will be listed at the end.


There are more complicated chords that use more than 3 notes, we’ll work with a few

The seventh chord uses the 1st, 3rd, 5th and b7th (flat 7th)
For the C seventh (C7) we use C, E, G and A#

The major seventh chord uses the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th
For the C seventh major (Cmaj7) chord we use C, E, G and B

The minor seventh chord uses the 1st, b3rd (flat 3rd), 5th and b7th
For the C minor seventh (Cm7) chord we use C, D#, G and A#

There are many more chords which will be listed below.


The above should give an idea of how the formulas for chord construction work.
The major scale for each key will be listed below followed by the formulas for chords.

Note that the columns below are equivalent,

Only sharp notes will be used on the chart that follows. 
C#
D#
F#
G#
A#
Db
Eb
Gb
Ab
Bb



Major Scales List

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
A
A
B
C#
D
E
F#
G#
A#
A#
C
D
D#
F
G
A
B
B
C#
D#
E
F#
G#
A#
C
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C#
C#
D#
F
F#
G#
A#
C
D
D
E
F#
G
A
B
C#
D#
D#
F
G
G#
A#
C
D
E
E
F#
G#
A
B
C#
D#
F
F
G
A
A#
C
D
E
F#
F#
G#
A#
B
C#
D#
F
G
G
A
B
C
D
E
F#
G#
G#
A#
C
C#
D#
F
G




b = flat (half step lower)         # = sharp (half step higher) 


Chord Formula
Major
1st 3rd 5th
Major seventh (maj7)
1st 3rd 5th 7th
Major ninth (maj9)
1st 3rd 5th 7th 2nd
Second / Add 9
1st 3rd 5th 2nd
Sixth
1st 3rd 5th 6th
Seventh
1st 3rd 5th b7th
Seventh suspended fourth (7sus4)
1st 4th 5th b7th  
Ninth
1st 3rd 5th b7th 2nd 
Ninth suspended fourth (9sus4)
1st 4th 5th b7th 2nd 
Minor
1st b3rd 5th
Minor sixth (m6)
1st b3rd 5th 6th
Minor seventh (m7)
1st b3rd 5th b7th
Suspended second (sus2)
1st 2nd 5th
Suspended fourth (sus4)
1st 4th 5th
Augmented (+ or aug)
1st 3rd #5th
Diminished (or dim)
1st b3rd b5th
Diminished seventh (o7 or dim7)
1st b3rd b5th 6th



Use the tool below to test your knowledge of chord construction or
understand what the chords you currently know are made up of.

The program below requires java. If you don't see anything below.
Download it here