3 CONTENTS CHORD THEORY Intervals ...... 4 Basic Triads ...... 6 Building Chords ...... 7 Incomplete Voicings ...... 9 A Note About Keys ...... 9

READING CHORDS Chord Symbol Variations...... 10 Chord Frames ...... 11 Choosing Chord Positions ...... 11

CHORDS Ab A Bb B C C# D Eb E F F# G Equivalents G# A# Db D# Gb Major ...... 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92 102 112 122 Minor ...... 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92 102 112 122 Diminished ...... 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92 102 112 122 Augmented ...... 12 22 32 42 52 62 72 82 92 102 112 122 ...... 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93 103 113 123 Suspended Fourth ...... 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93 103 113 123 Suspended Second ...... 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93 103 113 123

Major Sixth ...... 13 23 33 43 53 63 73 83 93 103 113 123 ...... 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94 104 114 124

Major ...... 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94 104 114 124 Seventh ...... 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94 104 114 124 ...... 14 24 34 44 54 64 74 84 94 104 114 124 Minor Seventh Flat Fifth...... 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 ...... 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 Seventh Suspended Fourth ...... 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125

Major Add ...... 15 25 35 45 55 65 75 85 95 105 115 125 Major Ninth ...... 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96 106 116 126 Ninth ...... 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96 106 116 126 Minor Ninth ...... 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96 106 116 126 Sixth Add Ninth ...... 16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 96 106 116 126 Minor Sixth Add Ninth ...... 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97 107 117 127 Minor ...... 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97 107 117 127 Minor Ninth Major Seventh ...... 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97 107 117 127 ...... 17 27 37 47 57 67 77 87 97 107 117 127 Minor Eleventh ...... 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98 108 118 128 ...... 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98 108 118 128

Flat Fifth ...... 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98 108 118 128 Seventh Flat Fifth ...... 18 28 38 48 58 68 78 88 98 108 118 128 Seventh ...... 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99 109 119 129 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh ...... 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99 109 119 129 Seventh Flat Ninth ...... 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99 109 119 129 Seventh Sharp Ninth ...... 19 29 39 49 59 69 79 89 99 109 119 129 Seventh Flat Ninth Augmented Fifth ...... 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Ninth Augmented Fifth ...... 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Ninth Flat Fifth ...... 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 Thirteenth Flat Ninth ...... 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101 111 121 131 Thirteenth Flat Ninth Flat Fifth ...... 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 101 111 121 131

SCALES Major ...... 132 Harmonic Minor ...... 134 Natural Minor ...... 133 Melodic Minor ...... 135 MANDOLIN FINGERBOARD CHART ...... 136

45724 Mandolin Chord Enc INT 02-136.indd 3 8/24/16 12:11 PM 4 CHORD THEORY Intervals

Play any note on the mandolin, then play a note one fret above it. The distance between these two notes is a half step. Play another note followed by a note two frets above it. The distance between these two notes is a whole step (two half steps). The distance between any two notes is referred to as an interval.

A scale is a series notes in a specific arrangement of whole and half steps. In the example of the C below, the letter names are shown above the notes and the scale degrees (numbers) of the notes are written below. Notice that C is the first degree of the scale, D is the second, etc.

The name of an interval is determined by counting the number of scale degrees from one note to the next. For example, an interval of a 3rd, starting on C, would be determined by counting up three scale degrees, or C–D–E (1–2–3). C to E is a 3rd. An interval of a 4th, starting on C, would be determined by counting up four scale degrees, or C–D–E–F (1–2–3–4). C to F is a 4th.

Note name: CDEFGABC DFA

1 1 1 (whole) step 1 step /2 (half) step 1 step 1 step 1 step / 2 step w w w w & w w w w w Degree: w1 w2345678 91113

Intervals M2 M3 P4 P5 M6 M7 P8 starting The intervals of a from C: 1 step 2 steps 9th, 11th & 13th 1 2 / 2 steps are often used in 1 3 /2 steps chord construction. 1 4 /2 steps 1 5 /2 steps 6 steps

Intervals are not only labeled by the distance between scale degrees but by the quality of the interval. An interval’s quality is determined by counting the number of whole steps and half steps between the two notes of an interval. For example, C to E is a 3rd. C to E is also a major 3rd (M3) because there are two whole steps between C and E. Likewise, C to Eb is a 3rd. C to Eb is also a minor 3rd (m3) because there are one-and-one-half steps between C and Eb. There are five qualities used to describe intervals: major, minor, perfect, diminished, and augmented.

M = Major o = Diminished (dim) P = Perfect m = Minor + = Augmented (aug)

Particular intervals are associated with certain qualities:

2nds, 9ths = Major, Minor & Augmented 3rds, 6ths, 13ths = Major, Minor, Augmented & Diminished 4ths, 5ths, 11ths = Perfect, Augmented & Diminished 7ths = Major, Minor & Diminished

45724 Mandolin Chord Enc INT 02-136.indd 4 8/8/16 3:56 PM 11 Chord Frames READING CHORDS

Mandolin chord frames are diagrams that contain all the information necessary to play a particular chord. The fingerings, note names, and position of the chord on the neck are all provided in the chord frame (see below). The photo at the left shows each fretting-hand finger and its 2 1 3 corrresponding finger number.

Vertical lines represent The number of the strings the fret on which the fingers are positioned

1 Horizontal An X indicates that the 2 lines represent string is unplayed or muted Open (unfingered) 3 the frets strings 4 (G DEA )

X X o o

5 1 1 Slurs indicate that The notes of the finger is placed 6 2 1 2 the open strings flat, covering the 7 3 2 marked notes 8 4 4 G C G E C E

5 1 1 Circles indicate 6 on which fret and 7 2 which string the 3 finger is placed— 8 the number C G E C indicates which finger is used

Resulting note names

Choosing Chord Positions

Whenoo playing,oo chooseoooo chord positions thatooo requireo the leasto amountooo of motionoooo from one chord ooooto the next;XXXX select fingeringsXXXX that are in approximatelyXXXX the same locationXXXX on the mandolinXXXX neck. This willXXXX provide smoother and more comfortable transitions between chords in a progression.

1 G C D G C D oo oo2 3 oo o

1 1 1 1 1 4 1 5 1 1 5 1 1 7 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 6 6 8 G# E E b G# E E b G# E E b G# E E G# E E G# E E 3 4 3 4 3 324 b 3 2 b 3 3 4b 7 324 7 2 9 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 8 8 3 10 3 G D B G G E C E AAD F GGD B CCG E DDA F C D E FGABC D E FG 5 ABC D E FG 5 A B C D E FG 5 ABC D E FG 5 ABC# D E FG 5 A B 5 # C D E F G A BC D E F G A BC D E F G A B b b b b b b b b b b b 6b b b b b b b 6b b b Cb Db Eb F b6Gb Ab BbCb Db Eb Fb G6b Ab BbCb Db Eb Fb G6b Ab Bb 6 C D E F G A BC D E F G A BC D E F G A B # # # # # # # # # # # 7# # # # # # # 7# # # C# D# E# F #7G# A# B#C# D# E# F# G7# A# B#C# D# E# F# G7# A# B# 7 C D E F G A BC D E F G A BC D E F G A B ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹

45724 Mandolin Chord Enc INT 02-136.indd 11 8/8/16 3:56 PM 12 oooo oooo oooo oooo oooo oooo XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Ab Ab Major

1 Ab 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 4 1 1 5 1 8 1 2 2 4 2 5 2 6 2 2 9 G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E b 3 4 b b3 3 3 4 b3 2 3 4 b5 3 4 b6 3 4 3 4 7 10 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 3 6 3 7 8 4 11 3 3 A E C A C A E A C A E C C A E A C D E FGAB C D E FG 5 AB C D E b FG 5b ABb C D 5 E4 FG 5 AB C D 7 E FG 5 AB C D E FG 5b ABb b 5b b b b b CCE A Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b bGb Ab Bbb Cb D 8b E4b F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb 6 C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D EE FAGCA AB C D E F G A B # # # # # # # # # # #7 # # # # # oooo# #7 # # # # # oooo# #7 # # # # # oooo#b #7b # # b# # # oooo# #7 # # # oooo 7 oooo XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ Abm Ab Minor

1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 2 4 1 1 7 1 1 8 1 2 2 2 2 5 5 8 2 9 2 G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E b 3 4 b 3 4 b3 3 4 b3 3 4 b6 3 4 3 4 b6 2 2 3 4 9 3 10 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 4 3 4 7 7 3 10 11 3 3 A E C A C E C A C A E A C A E C E C A E C D E FGAB C D E FG 5 AB C D E b FG 5b ABb b C D E b FG 5b ABb b C D E b FG 5b ABb b C D E b FG 51b ABb b 1 5 4 b b b b E C A C Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb b 6b b b C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# 7 oo 7 oo oooo 7 oooo 7 oooo 7 oooo 7 oooo C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ XXXX XXXX C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ Abo Ab Diminished o 1 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1 4 1 1 5 1 7 1 1 7 1 2 2 5 2 5 2 6 2 8 8 G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E b 3 4 b 3 4 b3 3 4 b6 3 3 4 b6 3 3 4 b7 3 4 3 4 9 2 9 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 7 7 4 8 10 10 3 A E C A C A E A C A E C E A E C C D E FGAB C D E FG 5 AB C D E b FG 5∫ ABb b C D E b FG 5b AB∫ b C D E b FG 5b ∫ABb C D E∫ FG 51b ∫ABb 1 4 11 4 E C A C E C A E Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb ∫ b b b ∫ b b ∫ C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F# G# A# B# 7 oooo 7 oooo 7 oooo 7 oooo 7 oooo 7 oooo C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ EXXXX∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ XXXX XXXX C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ Ab+ Ab Augmented

1 1 1 2 1 2 1 5 1 1 8 1 9 1 2 2 3 2 3 6 2 9 2 10 2 G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E G# E E b 3 4 b 3 4 b3 3 4 b4 3 3 4 b4 2 3 4 b7 3 3 4 10 3 11 3 2 2 2 2 2 4 4 5 4 5 3 8 4 11 4 12 4 A E C A CCE A CCA E E CCA E C A E C D E FGAB C D E FG 5 AB C D E b FG 5 ABb C D E FGABb C D 6 E FG 5 AB C D E FG 5b AB 5 b b Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F 6b Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb D 7b Eb F 6b G4b Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F b6Gb Ab Bb 6 C E E A C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E# F #7G# A# B# C# D# E# F #7G# A# B# C# D# E# F #7G# A# B# C# D# E# F 7# G# A# Bb# C# D# E# F #7G# A# B# 7 C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹ C‹ D‹ E‹ F‹ G‹ A‹ B‹

45724 Mandolin Chord Enc INT 02-136.indd 12 8/8/16 3:56 PM