How each chord type is built
Every chord starts on the root (the note that names it) and stacks thirds. Half steps count the distance from the root: on piano each neighboring key (white or black) is 1 half step; on guitar, each fret.
| Type | Symbol (C) | Formula | Half steps | Notes in C | Sounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major | C | root + major 3rd + perfect 5th | 0-4-7 | C E G | bright, stable |
| Minor | Cm | root + minor 3rd + perfect 5th | 0-3-7 | C E♭ G | sad, soft |
| Dominant 7th | C7 | major + minor 7th | 0-4-7-10 | C E G B♭ | wants to resolve |
| Major 7th | Cmaj7 | major + major 7th | 0-4-7-11 | C E G B | smooth, jazzy |
| Minor 7th | Cm7 | minor + minor 7th | 0-3-7-10 | C E♭ G B♭ | mellow, jazz and soul |
| Diminished | Cdim | root + minor 3rd + diminished 5th | 0-3-6 | C E♭ G♭ | tense |
| Augmented | Caug | root + major 3rd + augmented 5th | 0-4-8 | C E G♯ | mysterious |
| Suspended 4th | Csus4 | root + perfect 4th + 5th | 0-5-7 | C F G | open, no 3rd |
| Suspended 2nd | Csus2 | root + major 2nd + 5th | 0-2-7 | C D G | open, no 3rd |
| Sixth | C6 | major + major 6th | 0-4-7-9 | C E G A | sweet, retro |
| Half-diminished | Cm7♭5 | diminished + minor 7th | 0-3-6-10 | C E♭ G♭ B♭ | tense, minor ii–V |
| Diminished 7th | Cdim7 | diminished + diminished 7th | 0-3-6-9 | C E♭ G♭ B𝄫 | very tense, symmetrical |
| Add 9 | Cadd9 | major + 9th | 0-4-7-14 | C E G D | bright, pop |
The notes of each chord in all 12 keys
The most used ones: major, minor, dominant 7th, major 7th and minor 7th.
| Root | Major | Minor | Dominant 7th | Major 7th | Minor 7th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | CC E G | CmC E♭ G | C7C E G B♭ | Cmaj7C E G B | Cm7C E♭ G B♭ |
| C♯/D♭ | D♭D♭ F A♭ | C♯mC♯ E G♯ | D♭7D♭ F A♭ C♭ | D♭maj7D♭ F A♭ C | C♯m7C♯ E G♯ B |
| D | DD F♯ A | DmD F A | D7D F♯ A C | Dmaj7D F♯ A C♯ | Dm7D F A C |
| E♭ | E♭E♭ G B♭ | E♭mE♭ G♭ B♭ | E♭7E♭ G B♭ D♭ | E♭maj7E♭ G B♭ D | E♭m7E♭ G♭ B♭ D♭ |
| E | EE G♯ B | EmE G B | E7E G♯ B D | Emaj7E G♯ B D♯ | Em7E G B D |
| F | FF A C | FmF A♭ C | F7F A C E♭ | Fmaj7F A C E | Fm7F A♭ C E♭ |
| F♯ | F♯F♯ A♯ C♯ | F♯mF♯ A C♯ | F♯7F♯ A♯ C♯ E | F♯maj7F♯ A♯ C♯ E♯ | F♯m7F♯ A C♯ E |
| G | GG B D | GmG B♭ D | G7G B D F | Gmaj7G B D F♯ | Gm7G B♭ D F |
| G♯/A♭ | A♭A♭ C E♭ | G♯mG♯ B D♯ | A♭7A♭ C E♭ G♭ | A♭maj7A♭ C E♭ G | G♯m7G♯ B D♯ F♯ |
| A | AA C♯ E | AmA C E | A7A C♯ E G | Amaj7A C♯ E G♯ | Am7A C E G |
| B♭ | B♭B♭ D F | B♭mB♭ D♭ F | B♭7B♭ D F A♭ | B♭maj7B♭ D F A | B♭m7B♭ D♭ F A♭ |
| B | BB D♯ F♯ | BmB D F♯ | B7B D♯ F♯ A | Bmaj7B D♯ F♯ A♯ | Bm7B D F♯ A |
Where to play these chords
On guitar, see the guitar chord chart with diagrams and sound. On piano, see piano chords. For the theory step by step, read how chords are built, seventh chords and how to read chord symbols.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a C major chord?
C, E and G: the root, the major 3rd (4 half steps) and the perfect 5th (7 half steps).
What is the difference between a major and a minor chord?
Only the 3rd: 4 half steps in major, 3 in minor. C major is C E G and C minor is C E♭ G.
What do 7 and maj7 mean?
7 is the minor 7th (10 half steps), the dominant chord. maj7 is the major 7th (11 half steps). C7 is C E G B♭ and Cmaj7 is C E G B.
Why is it E♭ and not D♯ in C minor?
Because chord tones skip letters (C, E, G…), so the minor 3rd of C is written E♭ even though it sounds like D♯.