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Chords

Updated: Jun 6



Chords
Chords

Chords Plays a Major Role in Music ,Here we will look at some of the chords that as been played along with few chord progressions .


1)Major Chord



i ) Major chords are formed by intervals Major 3rd and Perfect 5th from the Tonic . 

Example 

Consider C as the tonic . the Major 3rd interval of C is E and Perfect 5th interval of C is G .

So C major chord is C E G .

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Consider F as the tonic . the Major 3rd interval of F is A and Perfect 5th interval of F is A .




 ii ) 4 , 3 semitones from the Tonic .

Example

Consider C as the Tonic . Calculate 4 semitones from the root C , that is , C to C# | C# to D | D to D# | D# to E . And Consider 3 semitones from E , that is , E to F | F to F# | F# to G .

So C major chord is C E G .

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Consider F as the tonic . Calculate 4 semitones from the root  F , that is , F to F# | F# to G | G to G# | G# to A . And Consider 3 semitones from A ,that is , A to A# | A# to B | B to C .


So F Major Chord is F A C .




iii ) 1, 3 and 5th note of the scale .


Example

Consider C Major Scale

1   2  3  4  5  6  7  8 

C  D E  F G  A  B  C


the 1,3,5 of the scale C major is C E G  . So the chord of C major is C E G .


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Consider F Major Scale

1   2  3  4     5  6   7  8 

F  G  A  Bb  C D E  F


the 1,3,5 of the scale F major is F A C  .So the chord of F major is F A C.


Major Chords

C    E    G

C#  F    G#

D    F#  A

D#  G   A#

E    G#  B

F     A    C                                                                  

F#   A#  C#                                                               

G    B    D                                                                  

G#  C    D#

A    C#   E

A#  D    F

B    D#  F#



2) Minor Chord



How  to identify minor chords are formed .?

i ) Minor chords are formed by intervals minor 3rd and Perfect 5th from the Tonic . 

Example

Consider C as the Tonic , The minor 3rd of C is Eb (E flat ) and Perfect 5th of C is G .So C minor chord is C Eb G .

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Consider F as the Tonic , the minor 3rd of F is Ab (A flat) and Perfect 5th of F is C .So F minor chord is F A C .






ii ) 3 , 4 semitone from the tonic

Example

Consider C as the Tonic ,  calculate  3 semitones from C , that is , C to C# | C# to D  | D to Eb . And calculate 4 semitones from Eb . that is , Eb to E | E to F | F to F# | F# to G .


So, the C minor chord is C Eb G

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Consider F as the Tonic , calculate 3 semitones from F , that is  ,F to F# |F# to G |G to Ab .  And  Calculate 4 semitones from Ab . that is , Ab to A | A to A# | A# to B | B to C .


So the F minor chord is F Ab C 






iii ) 1, 3 and 5th note of the scale .


Example

Consider C minor Scale

1   2  3    4  5   6    7    8 

C  D Eb  F G  Ab  Bb C


the 1,3,5 of the scale C major is C Eb G  . So the chord of C major is C Eb G .


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Consider F Major Scale

1   2  3      4    5 6  7  8 

F  G  Ab  Bb  C D Eb  F


the 1,3,5 of the scale F major is F Ab C  .So the chord of F major is F Ab C.


iv ) Flattend 3rd of Major chord 


Example

Consider , C Major chord    .i.e. C E G  , Here if we flatten the 3rd degree E , Then Cminor chord will be formed .

C  E  G   --->  C Eb G


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Consider , F Major chord  i.e . F A C ,Here if we flatten the 3rd degree A ,Then F minor chord will be formed .

F A C  ---> F Ab C


minor chords

C     Eb    G

C#   E     G#

D     F     A

D#   F#   A#

E     G     B

F     Ab    C                                                                  

F#   A      C#                                                               

G    Bb    D                                                                  

G#  B      D#

A    C      E

A#  C#    F

B    D      F#


3) Diminished Chord



i ) Diminish chords are formed by intervals minor 3rd and diminish from the Tonic . 

Example

Consider C as the Tonic , The minor 3rd of C is Eb (E flat ) and diminish of C is Gb .So C diminish chord is C Eb Gb .

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Consider F as the Tonic , the minor 3rd of F is Ab (A flat) and diminish of F is Cb .So F minor chord is F Ab Cb .




 ii ) 3 , 3 semitone from the tonic

Example

Consider C as the Tonic ,  calculate  3 semitones from C , that is , C to C# | C# to D  | D to Eb . And calculate 3 semitones from Eb . that is , Eb to E | E to F | F to F# | .


So, the C minor chord is C Eb F#

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Consider F as the Tonic , calculate 3 semitones from F , that is  ,F to F# |F# to G |G to Ab .  And  Calculate 4 semitones from Ab . that is , Ab to A | A to A# | A# to B | .


So the F minor chord is F Ab B 




iii ) Flattend 5rd of minor chord 

Consider , C minor chord    .i.e. C Eb G  , Here if we flatten the 5th degree G , Then C diminish chord will be formed .

C  Eb  G   --->  C Eb Gb


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Consider , F minor chord  i.e . F Ab C ,Here if we flatten the 5th degree C ,Then F diminish chord will be formed .

F Ab C  ---> F Ab Cb (F Ab B )


Diminish Chords 

C     Eb    Gb

C#   E     G

D     F     Ab

D#   F#   A

E     G     Bb

F     Ab    Cb                                                                  

F#   A      C                                                               

G    Bb    Db                                                                  

G#  B      D

A    C      Eb

A#  C#    Fb

B    D      F


4) Augmented Chord




i)  4 ,4 semitone from Tonic

Consider C as the Tonic ,  calculate  4 semitones from C , that is , C to C# | C# to D  | D to Eb | Eb to E | . And calculate 4 semitones from E . that is , E to F |  F to F#  |  F# to G | G to G# |  .


So, the C Augment chord is C E G#

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Consider F as the Tonic , calculate 4 semitones from F , that is  ,F to F# |F# to G |G to Ab | Ab to A | .  And  Calculate 4 semitones from A . that is , A to A# | A# to B | B to C | C to C# |  .


So the F minor chord is F A C# 




ii) Sharpening the 5th of Major Chord


Consider , C Major chord    .i.e. C E G  , Here if we Sharpen the 5th degree G , Then C Augment chord will be formed .

C  E  G   --->  C E G#


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Consider , F Major chord  i.e . F A C ,Here if we flatten the 5th degree C ,Then F Augment chord will be formed .

F A C  ---> F A C#

                     

Augment Chords

C    E    G#

C#  F    A

D    F#  A#

D#  G   B

E    G#  C

F     A    C#                                                                 

F#   A#  D                                                               

G    B    D#                                                                 

G#  C    E

A    C#   F

A#  D    F#

B    D#  G


5) Major 7th Chord





A) 1,3,5,7 

Major 7th Chord are formed based on the formula 1,3,5,7 from the Major scale 


Example 

Consider C Major Scale 

C D E F G A B C

So the Major 7th Chord of C is --> C E G B


B) 4,3,4 Semitone

Example

Consider C as the Tonic . Calculate 4 semitones from the root C , that is , C to C# | C# to D | D to D# | D# to E . And Consider 3 semitones from E , that is , E to F | F to F# | F# to G . And 4 semitones from G , that is , G to G# | G# to A | A to A# | A# to B .

So The Major 7th Chord of C is C E G B 


Major 7th Chords 

C E G B 

C# F G# C

D F# A C#

D# G A# D 

E G# B D#

F A C E

F# A# C# F

G B D F#

G# C D# G

A C# E G#

A# D F A

B D# F# A# 


6)minor 7th Chord





A) 1,b3,5,b7

minor7th chords are formed based on the formula 1,b3,5,b7 from Major scale

Click Major Scale To know more about Major scale

Example 

Consider  C Major Scale 

C D E F G  A B C 

So minor 7th chord of C minor is C Eb G Bb


B) 3,4,3 semitones 

Example 


Consider C as the Tonic . Calculate 3semitones from the root C , that is , C to C# | C# to D | D to D# |  . And Consider 4 semitones from D# , that is ,D# to E| E to F | F to F# | F# to G . And 3 semitones from G , that is , G to G# | G# to A | A to A# | . 

So The minor 7th Chord of C is C Eb G Bb       (D# = Eb : A# = Bb )

minor 7th Chords

C Eb G Bb

C# E G# B

D F A C

D# F# A# C#

E G B D 

F G# C D#

F# A C# E

G A# D F

G# B D# F#

A C E G

A# C# F G#

B D F# A


7)Dominant 7 




A) 1,3,5,b7

Dominant Chords are formed on the formula 1,3,5,b7 from Major scale 


Example


Consider C Major scale

C D E F G A B C

So , The Dominant 7 of C is C E G Bb


B) 4,3,3 semitones

Consider C as the Tonic . Calculate 4 semitones from the root C , that is , C to C# | C# to D | D to D# | D# to E . And Consider 3 semitones from E , that is , E to F | F to F# | F# to G . And 3 semitones from G , that is , G to G# | G# to A | A to A# 

So The Major 7th Chord of C is C E G Bb


Dominant 7 chords 

C E G Bb

C# F G# B

D F# A C

D# G A# C#

E G# B D

F A C D#

F# A# C# E

G B D F

G# C D# F#

A C# E G

A# D F G#

B D# F# A


8)Augmented  7





A) 1,3,#5,b7

Augmented 7th chords are formed based on the formula 1,3,#5,b7 from Major Scale


Example


Consider C Major Scale 

C D E F G A B C

So , The Augmented 7th of C is C E G# Bb


B) 4,4,2 Semitones 


Consider C as the Tonic . Calculate 4 semitones from the root C , that is , C to C# | C# to D | D to D# | D# to E . And Consider 4 semitones from E , that is , E to F | F to F# | F# to G |G to G#   . And 2 semitones from G# , that is ,  G# to A | A to A# |

So The Augmented 7th Chord of C is C E G# Bb

 

Augmented 7th Chords

C E G# Bb

C# F A B

D F# A# C

D# G B C#

E G# C D

F A C# D#

F# A# D E

G B D# F

G# C E F#

A C# F G

A# D F# G#

B D# G A


9)Dominant 7 , b5





A) 1,3,b5,b7

Dominant 7 , b5 chord is formed on the formula 1,3,b5,b7 from a major scale


Example 


Consider C Major scale is

C D E F G A B C

So The dominant 7 , b5 chord of C is C E Gb Bb


B) 4,3,4 Semitone


Consider C as the Tonic . Calculate 4 semitones from the root C , that is , C to C# | C# to D | D to D# | D# to E . And Consider 2 semitones from E , that is , E to F | F to F# |   . And 4 semitones from F# , that is ,  F# to G |G to G# G# to A | A to A# |

So The Dominant 7th , b5 Chord of C is C E Gb Bb


Dominant 7th , b5 Chords

C E Gb Bb

C# F A B

D F# A# C

D# G B C#

E G# C D

F A C# D#

F# A# D E

G B D# F

G# C E F#

A C# F G

A# D F# G#

B D# G A


10) minor Major 7th





A)1,b3,5,7

minor Major 7th chord is formed based on the formula 1,b3,5,7 on Major scale


Example


Consider C Major scale

C D E F G A B C 

So minor Major 7th chord of C is C Eb G B


B) 3,4,4 Semitones

 

Consider C as the Tonic . Calculate 3 semitones from the root C , that is , C to C# | C# to D | D to D# |  . And Consider 4 semitones from E , that is ,D# to E| E to F | F to F# | F# to G |    . And 4 semitones from G , that is , G to G# | G# to A | A to A# | A# to B .

                     

So The Dominant 7th , b5 Chord of C is C Eb G B

minor Major 7th Chords

C Eb G B

C# E G# C

D F A C#

D# F# A# D

E G B D#

F G# C E

F# A C# F

G A# D F#

G# B D# G

A C E G#

A# C# F A

B D F# A#


11) Half Diminished 7th





A) 1,b3,b5,b7


Half Diminished 7th chord is formed based on the formula 1,b3,b5,b7 on Major scale

Click Major Scale To know more about Major scale

Example


Consider C Major scale

C D E F G A B C 

So the Half Diminished 7th chord of C is C Eb Gb Bb


B) 3,3,4 Semitones


Consider C as the Tonic .Calculate 3 semitones from the root of C , That is ,C to C# | C# to D | D to D#| And Consider 3 semitones from D# , That is , D# to E | E to F | F to F# | And Consider 4 semitones from F# , That is , | F# to G | G to G# | G# to A | A to A# | 

So the  Half Diminished 7th chord of C is C Eb Gb Bb .


Half Diminished 7th Chords


C Eb Gb Bb

C# E G B

D F G# C

D# F# A C#

E G A# D

F G# B D#

F# A C E

G A# C# F

G# B D F#

A C D# G

A# C# E G#

B D F A


12) Diminished 7th





A) 1,b3,b5,bb7


Diminished 7th chord is formed based on the formula 1,b3,b5,bb7 on Major scale


Example


Consider C Major scale

C D E F G A B C 

So the Half Diminished 7th chord of C is C Eb Gb A


B)  3,3,3 semitones

Consider C as the Tonic .Calculate 3 semitones from the root of C , That is ,C to C# | C# to D | D to D#| And Consider 3 semitones from D# , That is , D# to E | E to F | F to F# | And Consider 3 semitones from F# , That is , | F# to G | G to G# | G# to A |  


So the Diminished 7th chord of C is C Eb Gb A

Dimished 7th Chords


C Eb Gb A

C# E G Bb

D F G# B

D# F# A C

E G A# Db

F G# B D

F# A C Eb

G A# C# E

G# B D F

A C D# Gb

A# C# E G

B D F Ab


13) Suspend Chords

There are 2 types of of suspended chords 

1) Sus 2 

2) Sus 4 





1) 2 , 5 Semitone for Sus 2 Chord


Consider C as the Tonic ,  calculate  2 semitones from C , that is , C to C# | C# to D  | . And calculate 5 semitones from D . that is , D to Eb | Eb to E | E to F |  F to F#  |  F# to G | .


So, the C Sus 2  chord is C D G


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Consider ,  F as the Tonic , calculate 2 semitones from F , that is  ,F to F# |F# to G | .  And  Calculate 5 semitones from G . that is , G to Ab | Ab to A |A to A# | A# to B | B to C | .


So, the F Sus 2  chord is F G C


2 ) 5 , 2 semitone for sus 4 chord

Consider C as the Tonic , calculate 5 semitone from C , that is ,C to C# | C# to D | D to Eb | Eb to E | 

E to F | . And Calculate 2 semitones from F , that is , F to F# | F# to G | . 

So  the C Sus 4 chord is C F G


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Consider F as the Tonic , calculate 5 semitones from F , that is , F to F# |F# to G | G to Ab | Ab to A |

A to A# | . And Calculate 2 semitones from A# , that is , A# to B | B to C | .

So the F Sus 4 chord is F A# C


Sus 2                             

C    D    G                         

C#  D#  G#                       

D    E    A                          

D#  F    A#                        

E    F#  B                           

F    G   C                            

F#  G# C#                          

G    A   D                            

G#  A# D#                          

A    B    E                            

A#  C    F                            

B    C#  F#  

                        



 Sus 4

C    F    G

C#  F#  G#

D   G    A

D# G#  A#

E   A    B

F   A#  C

F# B    C#

G  C    D

G# C# D#

A   D   E

A# D# F

B   E   F#


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