How to Use Chord Formulas and Their Benefits

From 8 the notes repeat only an octave higher: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
8 = 1 (C)
9 = 2 (D)
10 = 3 (E)
11 = 4 (F)
12 = 5 (G)
13 = 6 (A)

Here below you can pick a major scale key for the chords we’re going to build in the next section.

Major Scales in Every Key:
A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
Bb major scale = Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
B major scale = B C# D# E F# G# A# B
C major scale = C D E F G A B C
Db major scale = Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
D major scale = D E F# G A B C# D
Eb major scale = Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
E major scale = E F# G# A B C# D# E
F major scale = F G A Bb C D E F
Gb major scale = Gb Ab Bb Cb (=B) Db Eb F Gb
G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
Ab major scale = Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Building a Major Chord
To build a chord we need the chord formula and the major scale. Let’s build a C major chord.

The chord formula for a Major chord = 1 – 3 – 5
C major scale = C D E F G A B C

Now take the 1st, 3rd and 5th note of the major scale. Playing these notes simultaneously will result in a major chord. That means a C major chord consists of the notes: C E G (1 – 3 – 5)

You might wonder, “How can you hear only three notes when there are six strings on the guitar?” Well some notes in a chord appear twice. When you strum a C major chord you hear the following notes from the low E-string all the way to the high E-string.:

Low E string = mute
A string = C note
D string = E note
G string = G note
B string = C note
high E-string = E note

Check out some other major chord examples:
A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A
A major chord = A C# E (1 – 3 – 5)

G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
G major chord = G B D (1 – 3 – 5)

The chord diagrams below show where notes are on the strings:

Building a Minor Chord
Let’s take the A minor chord for this example.

The chord formula for a Minor chord = 1 – b3 – 5.
A major scale = A B C# D E F# G# A

b3 (flat three) means you take the third note of the major scale only a half step down. The third note of the A major scale is C#, so if you go down a half step C# becomes C. That means the notes of the A minor chord consists of the notes A C E (1 – b3 – 5)

Building a Maj7 Chord
One last example: Gmaj7
G major scale = G A B C D E F# G
Maj7 chord formula = 1 – 3 – 5 – 7
Gmaj7 = G B D F#

OTHER CHORD FORMULAS
Below you can see the most common chords and their chord formulas. I’ve taken the C root as example for all the chord names.

Chord name = chord formula | C root + chord name

Common Chord Types:
Major = 1 – 3 – 5 | C or Cmaj
Minor = 1 – b3 – 5 | Cm, Cmin, C-
Suspended Second = 1 – 2 – 5 | Csus2
Suspended Fourth = 1 – 4 – 5 | Csus4
Added ninth = 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 | Cadd9
Dominant Seventh = 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 | C7, Cdom7
Major Seventh = 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 | Cmaj7
Minor Seventh = 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 | Cm7, Cmin7, C-7

Major Formulas:
Major = 1 – 3 – 5 | C or Cmaj
Major Sixth = 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 | C6, Cmaj6
Six Nine = 1 – 3 – 5 – 6 – 9 | C6/9
Added ninth = 1 – 3 – 5 – 9 | Cadd9
Major Seventh = 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 | Cmaj7
Major Seventh Flat Five = 1 – 3 – b5 – 7 | Cmaj7b5
Major Seventh Sharp Five = 1 – 3 – #5 – 7 | Cmaj7#5
Major Ninth = 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9 | Cmaj9
Major Eleventh = 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – (9) – 11 | Cmaj11
Major Thirteenth = 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – (9) – (11) – 13 | Cmaj13
Major Seven Sharp Eleventh = 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – #11 | Cmaj7#11
Major Flat Five = 1 – 3 – b5 | Cb5

Minor Formulas:
Minor = 1 – b3 – 5 | Cm, Cmin, C-
Minor Sixth = 1 – b3 – 5 – 6 | Cm6, Cmin6, C-6
Minor Seventh = 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 | Cm7, Cmin7, C-7
Minor Added Ninth = 1 – b3 – 5 – 9 | Cmadd9
Minor Six Add Nine = 1 – b3 – 5 – 6 – 9 | Cm6/9
Minor ninth = 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 – 9 | Cm9
Minor eleventh = 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 – (9) – 11 | Cm11
Minor thirteenth = 1 – b3 – 5 – b7 – (9) – (11) – 13 | Cm13
Minor Major Seventh = 1 – b3 – 5 – 7 | Cm(Maj7)
Minor Major Ninth = 1 – b3 – 5 – 7 – 9 | Cm(Maj9)
Minor Major Eleventh = 1 – b3 – 5 – 7 – (9) – 11 | Cm(Maj11)
Minor Major Thirteenth = 1 – b3 – 5 – 7 – (9) – (11) – 13 | Cm(Maj13)
Minor Seven Flat Five = 1 – b3 – b5 – b7 | Cm7b5

Dominant Formulas:
Dominant Seventh = 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 | C7, Cdom7
Ninth = 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – 9 | C9
Elventh = 1 – (3) – 5 – b7 – (9) – 11 | C11
Thirtheenth = 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – (9) – (11) – 13 | C13
Seven Sharp Five = 1 – 3 – #5 – b7 | C7#5
Seven Flat Five = 1 – 3 – b5 – b7 | C7b5
Seven Flat Ninth = 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – b9 | C7b9
Seven Sharp Ninth = 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – #9 | C7#9
Nine Sharp Five = 1 – 3 – #5 – b7 – 9 | C9#5
Nine Flat Five = 1 – 3 – b5 – b7 – 9 | C9b5
Seven Sharp Five Sharp Nine = 1 – 3 – #5 – b7 – #9 | C7#5#9
Seven Sharp Five Flat Nine = 1 – 3 – #5 – b7 – b9 | C7#5b9
Seven Flat Five Sharp Nine = 1 – 3 – b5 – b7 – #9 | Cb5#9
Seven Flat Five Flat Nine = 1 – 3 – b5 – b7 – b9 | C7b5b9
Seven Sharp Eleven = 1 – 3 – 5 – b7 – #11 | C7#11

Miscellaneous Formulas:
Diminished = 1 – b3 – b5 | Cdim
Diminished Seventh = 1 – b3 – b5 – bb7 | Cdim7
Half diminished = 1 – b3 – b5 – b7 | Cm7b5
Suspended Seventh = 1 – 4 – 5 – b7 | C7sus4, C7sus
Augmented = 1 – 3 – #5 | Caug, C+
Augmented Seventh = 1 – 3 – #5 – b7 | Caug7, C7#5, C7+
Fifth, Power Chord = 1 – 5 | C5
Flat Fifth = 1 – b5 | Cb5, C-, C-5
Suspended Second = 1 – 2 – 5 | Csus2
Suspended Fourth = 1 – 4 – 5 | Csus4

Assignments
1 – What are the notes of an Am7 chord?
(Use the A major scale and Minor Seventh formula)

2 – Draw an Am7 chord diagram and write down the notes that are played on each string.
(check the most common types of 7th chords)

3 – Check if the notes from the chord formula and the notes in the chord diagram correspond.

4 – Now build a G diminished seventh chord.(Go through steps 1 to 3)

5 – Play a random chord on your guitar. Use the appropriate chord formula and check
if all the notes from the chord on your guitar correspond with the notes from the chord formula.

5 – Write down the difference between a major chord and a minor chord formula?

6 – Write down the formulas for a Maj7, Dom7 and Min7 chord.
What they have in common and what are their differences?

7 – Start with memorizing the formulas common chord types.

Enjoy building your chords!

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Have a great one!