Interpreting Chord Symbols

Home , Major seventh chord, Minor chord, Power chord

Add the second chord note, omit the third. The notes of this chord are C, D, G.

Add the second chord note to the full triad. The notes of this chord are C, D, E, G.

Play the fourth chord note, omit the third. The notes of this chord are C, F, G. “Sus” is short for “suspension.” The third of the chord is suspended up one half-step to the fourth, creating a tension that may or may not resolve back to the third.

Play only the ﬁrst and ﬁfth chord notes, omitting the third. The notes of this chord are C and G. This chord is neither major nor minor and is sometimes called a “power chord.”

This is an Augmented Chord. Raise the ﬁfth chord note one half-step. The notes of this chord are C, E, G-sharp.

Add the sixth chord note. The notes of this chord are C, E, G, A. “Cadd6” is played the same way.

A major chord with a major seventh. The major seventh is one half-step below the top octave note. The notes of this chord are C, E, G, B. Interpreting Chord Symbols, page 2

A major chord with a minor seventh. The minor seventh is two half-steps below the top octave note. The notes of this chord are C, E, G, B-ﬂat.

A minor chord with a minor seventh. The notes of this chord are C, E-ﬂat, G, B-ﬂat.

The ninth means one note above the octave, which is the same note as the second chord note. The difference here is that the upper extensions of a chord - 9, 11, or 13 - also imply the extra notes below. For example, a 9-chord implies the minor-7. An 11-chord implies the 9th and the minor-seventh. The notes of the pictured chord are C, E, G, B-ﬂat, D.

To indicate a major seventh chord note as well as the ninth, “Maj” is required before the 9. The notes of this chord are C, E, G, B, D.

This is a Diminished Chord. Lower the third and fifth chord notes one half-step. The notes of this chord are C, E-flat, G-flat.

This is a Half-diminished Chord. It adds a minor seventh to the diminished triad. The notes of this chord are C, E-flat, G-flat, B- flat.

This is a Fully Diminished-7 Chord. It adds a diminished seventh (three half-steps below the top octave note) to the diminished triad. The notes of this chord are C, E-flat, G-flat, B-double flat (played the same as an A-natural).