Notes in Common Chords

Also see:

Majors

  • C Maj = C - E - G

  • D Maj = D - F# - A

  • E Maj = E - G# - B

  • F Maj = F - A - C

  • G Maj = G - B - D

  • A maj = A - C# - E

  • B Maj = B - D# - F#

Minors

  • Cm = C - Eb - G

  • Dm = D - F - A

  • Em = E - G - B

  • Fm = F - Ab - C

  • Gm = G - Bb - D

  • Am = A - C - E

  • Bm = B - D - F#

7ths

  • C7 = C - E - G - Bb

  • D7 = D - F# - A - C

  • E7 = E - G# - B - D

  • F7 = F - A - C - Eb

  • G7 = G - B - D - F

  • A7 = A- C# - E - G

  • B7 = B - D# - F# - A

Sustained Chords

  • Csus4 = C - F - G

  • Csus2 = C - D - G

  • Dsus4 = D - G - A

  • Dsus2 = D - E - A

  • Dbsus4 = Db - Gb - Ab

  • Dbsus2 = Db - Eb - Ab

  • Esus4 = E - A - B

  • Esus2 = E - F# - B

  • Ebsus4 = Eb - Ab - Bb

  • Fsus4 = F - Bb - C

  • Fsus2 = F - G - C

  • F#sus4 = F# - B - C#

  • F#sus2 = F# - G# - C#

  • Gsus4 = G - C - D

  • Gsus2 = G - A - D

  • Gbsus4 = Gb - B - Db

  • Gbsus2 = Gb - Ab - Db

  • G#sus4 = G# - C# - D#

  • G#sus2 = G# - A# - D#

  • Asus4 = A - D - E

  • Asus2 = A - B - E

  • Absus4 = Ab - Db - Eb

  • Absus2 = Ab - Bb - Eb

  • A#sus4 = A# - D# - F

  • A#sus2 = A# - C - F

  • Bsus4 = B - E - F#

  • Bsus2 = B - C# - F#

  • Bbsus4 = Bb - Eb - F

  • Bbsus2 = Bb - C - F

Sharp Minors

  • C#m = C# - E - G#

  • D#m = D# - F# - A#

  • F#m = F# - A - C#

  • G#m = G# - B - D#

  • A#m = A# - C# - F

Sharp Majors

  • C# = C# - F - G#

  • D# = D# - G - A#

  • F# = F# - A# - C#

  • G# = G# - C - D#

  • A# = A# - D - F

Flat Majors

  • Db = Db - F - Ab

  • Eb = Eb - G - Bb

  • Gb = Gb - Bb - Db

  • Ab = Ab - C - Eb

  • Bb = Bb - D - F

Diminished

  • Cdim = C - Eb - Gb

  • Ddim = D - F - Ab

  • Edim = E - G - Bb

  • Fdim = F - Ab - B

  • Gdim = G - Bb - Db

  • Adim = A - C - Eb

  • Bdim = B - D - F

Add Chords

  • Cadd9 = C - E - G - D

  • Cadd2 = C - D - E - G

  • Dadd9 = D - F# - A - A

  • Dadd2 = D - E - F# - A

  • Eadd9 = E - G# - B - F#

  • Eadd2 = E - F# - G# - B

  • Fadd9 = F - A - C - G

  • Fadd2 = F - G - A - C

  • Gadd9 = G - B - D - A

  • Gadd2 = G - A - B - D

  • Aadd9 = A - C# - E - B

  • Aadd2 = A - B - C# - E

  • Badd9 = B - D# - F# - C#

  • Badd2 = B - C# - D# - F#

Augmented

  • Caug = C - E - G#

  • Daug = D - F# - A#

  • Eaug = E - G# - C

  • Faug = F - A - C#

  • Gaug = G - B - D#

  • Aaug = A - C# - F

  • Baug = B - D# - G

KEY: Basic Music Theory Helpful for Autoharpists

M = Major, A major chord is a chord that has a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord comprises only these three notes, it is called a major triad. Major chords typically have a positive correlation and are often used to express happiness or in an “upbeat” section of music. Major chords are often expressed without the capital M, for example D Major is typically written as D.

m = Minor, A minor chord is a chord that has a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord comprises only these three notes, it is called a minor triad. Minor chords are often used to express sadness or melancholy. Examples: Dm, Am, Em, Bm.

sus = Suspended, Suspended chords are used to hold back the resolution to the tonic chord. They typically sound unresolved, hence the name. Example: Csus, Asus.

aug = Augmented, An augmented triad is a chord, made up of two major thirds. The term augmented triad arises from an augmented triad being considered a major chord whose top note is raised. Examples: Eaug, Faug.

add = An added tone chord (or added note chord) is a non-tertian chord composed of a triad and an extra "added" note. Any tone that is not a seventh factor is commonly categorized as an added tone. Examples: Cadd, Dadd4, Eadd2.

7th = A dominant seventh chord, or major-minor seventh chord is a chord composed of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. 7th chords are typically made up of 4 notes. Examples: D7, C7, F7.