This lesson will focus on how chords are made. Just like we had a formula of steps that we could use to make a scale (click here to see the lesson on building scales), we can also use a formula to make chords.
A basic chord is built on 3 notes. These 3 note chords are called “triads”. Other notes can be added to a tried to make “extensions”. This lesson will focus just on triads. Extensions will be covered in a later lesson.
There are 6 important types of chords that you need to know: Major chords, minor chords, diminished chords, augmented chords, sus chords, and 5 chords. Major and Minor chords are the most important chords in western music. Diminished chords are also very important. Major chords are said to have a “happy” tone while minor chords are said to have a “sad” tone. Diminished chords are great for building tension. This lesson will explain how to make major, minor, and diminished chords. So lets build some chords.
If you remember from the lesson on the major scale, there are 7 notes in the major scale. By taking certain notes out of this scale we can build a triad. So what notes do we take? Well that depends on what chord we want to build.
The Formula’s for major and minor chords are as follows:
Major: 1-3-5 . So that means you take the 1st, the 3rd note and the 5th note and play them together. That gives you a major triad.
Minor: 1-3b-5. Minor chords are made by taking the 1st note, the b3rd (this means you “flat” the 3rd note by moving it down one half-step), and the 5th note.
Diminished: 1-3b-5b. Diminished chords are made by playing the 1st note and flatting both the 3rd and the 5th notes of a scale.
So the difference between a major and minor triad is the 3rd note. A minor triad has a flat third note.
You will notice that to build a chord we are stacking either Major 3rd or minor 3rd intervals on top of each other. So chords are made by stacking 3rds. (If you don't know what I'm talking about see my post on intervals).
Lets take a look at the C major scale and apply our chord formulas:
So if we want to make a C minor chord all we have to do is flat the 3rd. So lets move the E note down one half step. So C minor would be C, Eb, G. Got it? And what would a C diminished chord be?
You got it. C, Eb, Gb. (because we flat the 3rd and 5th notes!)
Now lets look at the guitar chord charts and see how to play these chords.
I hope you enjoyed this lesson. If you have any questions please post them to the comments section of this post. Next lesson we will look at how to build Sus chords, 5 chords, and Augmented chords.
Thanks for the lessons they are very helpful. I do how ever have a question. If the C major triad is C,E,G. How come you can’t play your E6 string (top E) on the guitar when playing a C major Chord
you could play the low E or sixth string, but it would sound odd, because its not the root of the chord, but it is the 3rd of the chord. some would call that a C/E meaning its a C chord with an E bass note
Where can aug and sus chords be used?
Which sus and aug chords are used in C scale?
If you stack two triads ontop of eachother(polychord) then can you play two scales at once?
To make an Augmented triad chord, you do 1,3,5# (1/2 step up). So, C, E, G# — I don’t know sustained chords.
great lesson ..thank you so very much for this posting..
THAKS FOR POSTING THIS LESSON ON THE SITE :] it halped me alot to understand chord voicing :]
Your explanation is very clear and easy to follow. Good post ! You could have also included Augmented chord in the same post
To make sustained or suspended chords just replace the third with the 2nd or 4th note if the scale making it a sus2 or a sus4. Since the 3rd is taken out the chord it is neutral like a 5th chord
bekaar hai yaar ye lesson. baansuri sikha to janu.
Aji ghante ka good post. chutiya banara saala.
THAKS FOR POSTING THIS LESSON ON THE SITE
@Bashaar , @dharmesh – You idiots must learn English language first to understand what is written in the post. Otherwise you shitheads would feel this post is a junk..!!
y we r using c again in 2 fret ?
Good Job! Thank you for posting the lesson!
how is an Am11 cord made on a guitar.
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