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Chord Formulas
If you have the major scale down, you can work on these very useful chord formula charts below to learn chords in any key. You can use the C major scale to make other chord types in the key of C. Go ahead, and find all the notes in any type of C chord by adding the chord formula to the C major scale, then use the fretboard chart to help you find the chord on your guitar. Remember, there are several different voicing for all the given chords.
When you read these chord formulas, remember that any number higher than 7 means a higher octave. The 9th degree is one octave higher than the 2nd degree, the 11th degree is one octave higher than the 4th degree, and the 13th degree is one octave higher than the 6th degree.
Major Chords
| Chord | Formula | Symbol |
| Major Triad | 1, 3, 5 | major |
| Major 6 | 1, 3, 5, 6 | 6 |
| Major 7 | 1, 3, 5, 7 | major 7 |
| Major 9 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 | major 9 |
| Major 11 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 | major 11 |
| Major 13 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13 | major 13 |
| Major add 9 | 1, 3, 5, 9 | add 9 |
| Major 6 add 9 | 1, 3, 5, 6, 9 | 6/9 |
| Major 7 b5 | 1, 3, b5, 7 | major 7 b5 |
| Suspended 2 | 1, 2, 5 | sus 2 |
| Suspended 4 | 1, 4, 5 | sus 4 |
Minor Chords
| Chord | Formula | Symbol |
| Minor Triad | 1, b3, 5 | m |
| Minor 6 | 1, b3, 5, 6 | m6 |
| Minor 7 | 1, b3, 5, b7 | m7 |
| Minor 9 | 1, b3, 5, b7, 9 | m9 |
| Minor 11 | 1, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11 | m11 |
| Minor 13 | 1, b3, 5, b7, 9, 13 | m13 |
| Minor add 9 | 1, b3, 5, 9 | m add 9 |
| Minor 6 add 9 | 1, b3, 5, 6, 9 | m 6/9 |
| Minor 7 b5 | 1, b3, b5, b7 | m 7 b5 |
| Minor major 7 | 1, b3, 5, 7 | m/major 7 |
Dominant Chords
| Chord | Formula | Symbol |
| Dominant 7 | 1, 3, 5, b7 | 7 |
| Dominant 9 | 1, 3, 5, b7, 9 | 9 |
| Dominant 11 | 1, 3, 5, b7, 11 | 11 |
| Dominant 13 | 1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 13 | 13 |
| Dominant 7 b5 | 1, 3, b5, b7 | 7 b5 |
| Dominant 7 #5 | 1, 3, #5, b7 | 7 #5 |
| Dominant 7 b9 | 1, 3, 5, b7, b9 | 7 b9 |
| Dominant 7 #9 | 1, 3, 5, b7, #9 | 7 #9 |
| Dominant 7 suspended 4 | 1, 4, 5, b7 | 7 sus 4 |
| Diminished triad | 1, b3, b5 | dim or o |
| Diminished 7 | 1, b3, b5, bb7 | dim 7 or o7 |
| Augmented triad | 1, 3, #5 | augmented or + |
Fretboard Chart
| Fret | E | A | D | G | B | E |
| 1 | F | A# Bb | D# Eb | G# Ab | C | F |
| 2 | F# Gb | B | E | A | C# Db | F# Gb |
| 3 | G | C | F | A# Bb | D | G |
| 4 | G# Ab | C# Db | F# Gb | B | D# Eb | G# Ab |
| 5 | A | D | G | C | E | A |
| 6 | A# Bb | D# Eb | G# Ab | C# Db | F | A# Bb |
| 7 | B | E | A | D | F# Gb | B |
| 8 | C | F | A# Bb | D# Eb | G | C |
| 9 | C# Db | F# Gb | B | E | G# Ab | C# Db |
| 10 | D | G | C | F | A | D |
| 11 | D# Eb | G# Ab | C# Db | F# Gb | A# Bb | D# Eb |
| 12 | E | A | D | G | B | E |
| 13 | F | A# Bb | D# Eb | G# Ab | C | F |
All the notes reproduce one octave higher in pitch starting at the 12th fret. For example all the
notes at the 12th fret are exactly the same as all the strings open, and all the notes
at the 13th fret are exactly the same as the notes on each string at the first fret,
just one octave higher in pitch.