Below is a chord construction formula for some of the commonly used chords in 8 of the most common keys.
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Chords for keys not listed here can be constructed by applying the correct formula to the respective scale. Let's construct a B7 chord:
B7 is based on the Dom 7 formula, which is 1-3-5-b7, so start by spelling the B major scale and pick out the notes according to the formula:
B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A#
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
and we get this:
B - D# - F# - A = B7
1 3 5 b7
*When dealing with chords that needed more than 4 notes to make up the chord, the 5th can always be omitted*
Knowing the formula for chords constructions is a great benefit to improve as a musician. The coolest thing is, you don't have to relay on chord books now that you can invent your own chord fingerings..:)
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Recommended Resource:
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Back
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Chords for keys not listed here can be constructed by applying the correct formula to the respective scale. Let's construct a B7 chord:
B7 is based on the Dom 7 formula, which is 1-3-5-b7, so start by spelling the B major scale and pick out the notes according to the formula:
B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A#
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
and we get this:
B - D# - F# - A = B7
1 3 5 b7
*When dealing with chords that needed more than 4 notes to make up the chord, the 5th can always be omitted*
Knowing the formula for chords constructions is a great benefit to improve as a musician. The coolest thing is, you don't have to relay on chord books now that you can invent your own chord fingerings..:)
____________________________________________________________________________________
Recommended Resource:
____________________________________________________________________________________
Back
Great book that covers essential concepts for players of every level, acoustic or electric. It's a hands-on guide to theory that teaches you how to build any scale or chord on your own and unleash creativity. No music reading is required.
Key | Minor | Minor 7 | Minor 9 | minor 7b5 | Diminished |
| 1-b3-5 | 1-b3-5-b7 | 1-b3-5-b7-9 | 1-b3-b5-b7 | 1-b3-b5-bb7 |
C Major | C-Eb-G | C-Eb-G-Bb | C-Eb-G-Bb-D | C-Eb-Gb-Bb | C-Eb-Gb-A |
G Major | G-Bb-D | G-Bb-D-F | G-Bb-D-F-A | G-Bb-Db-F | G-Bb-Db-E |
D Major | D-F-A | D-F-A-C | D-F-A-C-E | D-F-Ab-C | D-F-Ab-B |
A Major | A-C-E | A-C-E-G | A-C-E-G-B | A-C-Eb-G | A-C-Eb-Gb |
E Major | E-G-B | E-G-B-D | E-G-B-D-F# | E-G-Bb-D | E-G-Bb-Db |
F Major | F-Ab-C | F-Ab-C-Eb | F-Ab-C-Eb-G | F-Ab-B-Eb | F-Ab-B-D |
Bb Major | Bb-Db-F | Bb-Db-F-Ab | Bb-Db-F-Ab-C | Bb-Db-E-Ab | Bb-Db-E-G |
Eb Major | Eb-Gb-Bb | Eb-Gb-Bb-Db | Eb-Gb-Bb-Db-F | Eb-Gb-A-Db | Eb-Gb-A-C |
| 1-b3-5 | 1-b3-5-b7 | 1-b3-5-b7-9 | 1-b3-b5-b7 | 1-b3-b5-bb7 |
C Major | C-Eb-G | C-Eb-G-Bb | C-Eb-G-Bb-D | C-Eb-Gb-Bb | C-Eb-Gb-A |
G Major | G-Bb-D | G-Bb-D-F | G-Bb-D-F-A | G-Bb-Db-F | G-Bb-Db-E |
D Major | D-F-A | D-F-A-C | D-F-A-C-E | D-F-Ab-C | D-F-Ab-B |
A Major | A-C-E | A-C-E-G | A-C-E-G-B | A-C-Eb-G | A-C-Eb-Gb |
E Major | E-G-B | E-G-B-D | E-G-B-D-F# | E-G-Bb-D | E-G-Bb-Db |
F Major | F-Ab-C | F-Ab-C-Eb | F-Ab-C-Eb-G | F-Ab-B-Eb | F-Ab-B-D |
Bb Major | Bb-Db-F | Bb-Db-F-Ab | Bb-Db-F-Ab-C | Bb-Db-E-Ab | Bb-Db-E-G |
Eb Major | Eb-Gb-Bb | Eb-Gb-Bb-Db | Eb-Gb-Bb-Db-F | Eb-Gb-A-Db | Eb-Gb-A-C |
Key | Major | Maj 7 | Dom 7 | add 9 | sus | Aug |
| 1-3-5 | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-b7 | 1-3-5-9 | 1-4-5 | 1-3-#5 |
C Major | C-E-G | C-E-G-B | C-E-G-Bb | C-E-G-D | C-F-G | C-E-G# |
G Major | G-B-D | G-B-D-F# | G-B-D-F | G-B-D-A | G-C-D | G-B-D# |
D Major | D-F#-A | D-F#-A-C# | D-F#-A-C | D-F#-A-E | D-G-A | D-F#-A# |
A Major | A-C#-E | A-C#-E-G# | A-C#-E-G | A-C#-E-B | A-D-E | A-C#-F |
E Major | E-G#-B | E-G#-B-D# | E-G#-B-D | E-G#-B-F# | E-A-B | E-G#-C |
F Major | F-A-C | F-A-C-E | F-A-C-Eb | F-A-C-G | F-Bb-C | F-A-C# |
Bb Major | Bb-D-F | Bb-D-F-A | Bb-D-F-Ab | Bb-D-F-C | Bb-Eb-F | Bb-D-F# |
Eb Major | Eb-G-Bb | Eb-G-Bb-D | Eb-G-Bb-Db | Eb-G-Bb-F | Eb-Ab-Bb | Eb-G-B |
| 1-3-5 | 1-3-5-7 | 1-3-5-b7 | 1-3-5-9 | 1-4-5 | 1-3-#5 |
C Major | C-E-G | C-E-G-B | C-E-G-Bb | C-E-G-D | C-F-G | C-E-G# |
G Major | G-B-D | G-B-D-F# | G-B-D-F | G-B-D-A | G-C-D | G-B-D# |
D Major | D-F#-A | D-F#-A-C# | D-F#-A-C | D-F#-A-E | D-G-A | D-F#-A# |
A Major | A-C#-E | A-C#-E-G# | A-C#-E-G | A-C#-E-B | A-D-E | A-C#-F |
E Major | E-G#-B | E-G#-B-D# | E-G#-B-D | E-G#-B-F# | E-A-B | E-G#-C |
F Major | F-A-C | F-A-C-E | F-A-C-Eb | F-A-C-G | F-Bb-C | F-A-C# |
Bb Major | Bb-D-F | Bb-D-F-A | Bb-D-F-Ab | Bb-D-F-C | Bb-Eb-F | Bb-D-F# |
Eb Major | Eb-G-Bb | Eb-G-Bb-D | Eb-G-Bb-Db | Eb-G-Bb-F | Eb-Ab-Bb | Eb-G-B |
