Ab a Bb B C C# Enharmonic Equivalents G# A# Db Enharmonic Equivalents Major

Home , Augmented fifth, Minor seventh, Minor sixth

CONTENTS

CHORD THEORY Intervals ...... 4 Basic Triads...... 8 Building Chords...... 10

READING CHORDS Chord Frames...... 14 Choosing Chord Positions...... 14

CHORDS Ab A Bb B C C# Enharmonic Equivalents G# A# Db Enharmonic Equivalents Major...... 16 28 40 52 64 76 Minor...... 16 28 40 52 64 76 Diminished...... 16 28 40 52 64 76 Augmented...... 17 29 41 53 65 77 Fifth...... 17 29 41 53 65 77 Suspended Fourth...... 17 29 41 53 65 77 Suspended Second...... 18 30 42 54 66 78

Major Sixth...... 18 30 42 54 66 78 Minor Sixth...... 18 30 42 54 66 78

Major Seventh...... 19 31 43 55 67 79 Seventh...... 19 31 43 55 67 79 Minor Seventh...... 19 31 43 55 67 79 Minor Seventh Flat Fifth...... 20 32 44 56 68 80 Diminished Seventh...... 20 32 44 56 68 80 Seventh Suspended Fourth.....20 32 44 56 68 80

Major Add Ninth...... 21 33 45 57 69 81 Major Ninth...... 21 33 45 57 69 81 Ninth...... 21 33 45 57 69 81 Minor Ninth...... 22 34 46 58 70 82 Sixth Add Ninth...... 22 34 46 58 70 82 Minor Sixth Add Ninth...... 22 34 46 58 70 82 Minor Major Seventh...... 23 35 47 59 71 83 Minor Ninth Major Seventh....23 35 47 59 71 83

Eleventh...... 23 35 47 59 71 83 Minor Eleventh...... 24 36 48 60 72 84 Thirteenth...... 24 36 48 60 72 84

Seventh Flat Fifth...... 24 36 48 60 72 84 Seventh Augmented Fifth...... 25 37 49 61 73 85 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh...... 25 37 49 61 73 85 Seventh Flat Ninth...... 25 37 49 61 73 85 Seventh Sharp Ninth...... 26 38 50 62 74 86 Seventh Flat Ninth Augmented Fifth...... 26 38 50 62 74 86 Ninth Augmented Fifth...... 26 38 50 62 74 86 Ninth Flat Fifth...... 27 39 51 63 75 87 Thirteenth Flat Ninth...... 27 39 51 63 75 87 Thirteenth Flat Ninth Flat Fifth...... 27 39 51 63 75 87

Mando Chord Dictionary HG.indd 2 8/22/16 10:17 AM CONTENTS

CHORDS D Eb E F F# G Enharmonic Equivalents D# Gb Major...... 88 100 112 124 136 148 Minor...... 88 100 112 124 136 148 Diminished...... 88 100 112 124 136 148 Augmented...... 89 101 113 125 137 149 Fifth...... 89 101 113 125 137 149 Suspended Fourth...... 89 101 113 125 137 149 Suspended Second...... 90 102 114 126 138 150

Major Sixth...... 90 102 114 126 138 150 Minor Sixth...... 90 102 114 126 138 150

Major Seventh...... 91 103 115 127 139 151 Seventh...... 91 103 115 127 139 151 Minor Seventh...... 91 103 115 127 139 151 Minor Seventh Flat Fifth...... 92 104 116 128 140 152 Diminished Seventh...... 92 104 116 128 140 152 Seventh Suspended Fourth.....92 104 116 128 140 152

Major Add Ninth...... 93 105 117 129 141 153 Major Ninth...... 93 105 117 129 141 153 Ninth...... 93 105 117 129 141 153 Minor Ninth...... 94 106 118 130 142 154 Sixth Add Ninth...... 94 106 118 130 142 154 Minor Sixth Add Ninth...... 94 106 118 130 142 154 Minor Major Seventh...... 95 107 119 131 143 155 Minor Ninth Major Seventh....95 107 119 131 143 155

Eleventh...... 95 107 119 131 143 155 Minor Eleventh...... 96 108 120 132 144 156 Thirteenth...... 96 108 120 132 144 156

Seventh Flat Fifth...... 96 108 120 132 144 156 Seventh Augmented Fifth...... 97 109 121 133 145 157 Major Seventh Sharp Eleventh...... 97 109 121 133 145 157 Seventh Flat Ninth...... 97 109 121 133 145 157 Seventh Sharp Ninth...... 98 110 122 134 146 158 Seventh Flat Ninth Augmented Fifth...... 98 110 122 134 146 158 Ninth Augmented Fifth...... 98 110 122 134 146 158 Ninth Flat Fifth...... 99 111 123 135 147 159 Thirteenth Flat Ninth...... 99 111 123 135 147 159 Thirteenth Flat Ninth Flat Fifth...... 99 111 123 135 147 159

A NOTE ABOUT KEYS Circle of Fifths...... 160 3

Mando Chord Dictionary HG.indd 3 8/22/16 10:17 AM 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 Major scale 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

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

Mando Chord Dictionary HG.indd 4 8/22/16 10:17 AM READING Chord Frames CHORDS

The following explains how to read chord frames:

Vertical lines represent the The number of the strings fret on which the fingers are positioned Horizontal 1 lines represent 2 the frets 3 4 (G DEA )

The notes of the open strings

An X indicates that the string is Open (unfingered) unplayed or muted strings

X X o o

5 1 1 6 2 2 1 7 3 2 8 4 4 G C G E C E

Circles indicate on which fret and which string the finger is placed—the number indicates which finger is used

Slurs indicate that the finger is placed flat, covering the marked notes

5 1 1 6 7 2 8 3 C G E C

Resulting note names

Mando Chord Dictionary HG.indd 15 8/22/16 10:17 AM oooo oooo oooo XXXX XXXX XXXX Ab Abm Abo

1 1 1 2 2 2 G# E E G# E E G# E E b b 3 b 3 3 4 4 4 A E C A A E C A A E C A C D E FGAB C D E5 FGAB Cb Db E5 FGb AB b b 5b b b ∫ b b C D E F G A B C D E F G A B ooooC D E F G A B oooo oooo b b b b b b b b b 6b b b b b XXXXb b 6b b b b b XXXX 6 XXXX C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B # # # # # # # # # 7# # A# # # # # 7# # # # # 7 C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫A∫B∫ C∫ D∫ E∫F∫G∫Ab∫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‹

1 1 4 2 2 5 G# E E G# E E G# E E b b 3 b 3 6 4 4 7 C E C A C A E A C D E FGAB C D E5FGAB 5 C D E5 FGAB b b 5b b b b ∫ b C D E F G A B C D E F G A B CCooooC ED E AF G A B oooo oooo b b b b b b b b b 6b b b b b XXXXb b b 6b b b b b XXXX 6 XXXX C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E7# F# G# A# B# C# D# E7# F# G# 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‹

3 4 4 4 5 5 G# E E G# E E G# E E b b 5 b 6 6 6 7 7 C A E A C A E C C D E FGAB C D E5 FGAB 7 C D E5 FGAB b b 5b b b b ∫ b C D E F G A B C D E F G A B ooooC D E F G A B oooo oooo b b b b b b b b b 6b b b b b 8 XXXXb b 6b b b b b XXXX 6 XXXX E A C A C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E7# F# G# A# B# Cb# Db# E7# Fb# G# 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‹

4 4 5 5 5 6 G# E E G# E E G# E E b b 6 b 6 7 7 7 8 C A E A C A E C E A E C C D E FGAB C D E5 FGAB C Db E5b FGb AB b b 5b b ∫ b ∫ b C D E F G A B C D E F G A B ooooC D E F G A B oooo oooo b b b b b b b b b 6b b b b b XXXXb b 6b b b b b XXXX 6 XXXX C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E7# F# G# A# B# C# D# E7# F# G# 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‹

5 7 7 6 8 8 G# E E G# E E G# E E b b 7 b 9 9 8 10 10 C A E C C D E FGAB C D E5 FGAB C Db E51b FGAB 1 511 E C A C E C A C Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db E6b Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb Db E6b Fb Gb Ab Bb b b 6b b ∫ b b b C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# D# E7# F# G# A# B# C# D# E7# F# G# 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‹ 16

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