Chords
In music theory, a Chord is any harmonic set of pitches consisting of two or more notes that are heard as if sounding simultaneously. Chords are defined by their root note and their quality, major or minor fundamentally. Chords are built from scales. You can make chords with the notes and intervals of a particular scale. You can build any chord by starting out with a root note and then adding other notes from the desired chord’s scale. The type of chord you are playing depends on the intervals between the notes of the chord. Another name for this is the quality of the chord. Each chord quality has it’s own distinctive sound. Some will sound happy, some will sound sad, and others will sound mysterious.
Different Type of Chords
A triad is a chord made of three notes, it consists of a root note, the 3rd and the 5th above it. Using C as your root note, the triad is C, E, G.
A Seventh chord is a chord consisting of a triad plus a note forming an interval of a 7th above the root note.
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A Major 7th chord is basically a major chord with one extra note added, the major 7th. Just play a major chord, and add a note that is an interval of a major 7th from the root note of the chord. If you build a major triad on C you will use the notes C, E, G. If you add another note, a 7th above C, then you will have C, E, G, B.
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A Minor 7th chord is basically a minor chord with one extra note added, the minor 7th. Just play a minor chord, and add a note that is an interval of a minor 7th from the root note of the chord. If you build a minor triad on A you will use the notes A, C, E. If you add another note, a minor 7th above A, then you will have A, C, E, G.
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A Dominant 7th chord is basically a major chord with one extra note added, the minor 7th. Just play a major chord, and add a note that is an interval of a minor 7th from the root note of the chord. If you build a triad on G you will use the notes G, B, D. If you add another note, a minor 7th above G, then you will have G, B, D, F.
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A Major 9th chord is basically a major 7th chord with one extra note added, the major 9th. Just play a major 7th chord, and add a note that is an interval of a major 9th from the root note of the chord. C, E, G, B, D.
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A Major 6th chord is basically a major chord with one extra note added, the major 6th. Just play a major chord, and add a note that is an interval of a major 6th from the root note of the chord. C, E, G, A.
An Augmented chord is similar to the major chord, except that the 5th note of the augmented chord, in root position, is one half step higher than the 5th note of the major chord, in root position. For example, the notes of the C major chord are C, E, G. The notes of the C augmented chord are C, E, G#. Just play a major chord in root position, but raise the 5th note by one half step.
A Diminished chord is similar to the major chord, except that the 3rd note and the 5th note of the diminished chord, in root position, is one half step lower than the 3rd note and the 5th note of the major chord, in root position. For example, the notes of the C major chord are C, E, G. The notes of the C diminished chord are C, D#, F#. Just play a major chord in root position, but lower the 3rd note and the 5th note by one half step.
A Suspended chord is a chord in which the 3rd is omitted and replaced usually with either a perfect 4th or a major 2nd, although the 4th is far more common. The lack of a minor or a major 3rd in the chord creates an open sound. There are two main types of suspended chords, Sus2 and Sus4.
(1) The Sus2 chord is similar to the major chord, except that the middle note of the Sus2 chord, in root position, is an interval of a major 2nd above the root, instead of an interval of a major 3rd above the root, like in the major chord. For example, the notes of the C major chord are C, E, G. The notes of the C Sus2 chord are C, D, G.
(2) The Sus4 chord is similar to the major chord, except that the middle note of the Sus4 chord, in root position, is an interval of a major 4th above the root, instead of an interval of a major 3rd above the root, like in the major chord. For example, the notes of the C major chord are C, E, G. The notes of the C Sus4 chord are C, F, G.
Chord Chart
There are many kinds of chords that consist of many different shapes. Below is a chart containing some of the chords mentioned above. Open chords are chords that are played using only the first three frets of the guitar. This chart represents 24 of the most useful open chords that you can use to play guitar.
Advanced Chord Chart
