Chord Construction

Reading this chart left to right shows the major scale and the simple studio numbering system for each root note.

Examples: C scale is C,D,E,F,G,A,B,C (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,1(8)); G scale is G,A,B,C,D,E,F#,G (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,1(8)), etc.

Reading the chart top to bottom shows the chromatic scale and the full studio numbering system. Top to bottom indicates the building blocks to be used for every chord.

Major chords are made up of 1,3,5.

Examples: F Chord= 1,3,5 (F,A,C); F7= 1,3,5,7D (F,A,C,Eb); F minor= 1,3b,5 (F,Ab,C), etc.

For 9th, 11th, and 13th chords, remember that 7D is a constant and then you add the numerical difference from your chart to 7 to get your desired chord.

Examples: C9=1,3,5,7D,2 (7+2 makes the 9); C11=1,3,5,7D,4 (7+4 makes the 11), etc.

Diminished and Augmented chords refer to a change in the fifth interval. A basic rule is that diminished chords will always have a flat 3 and a flat 5, Augmented chords have a sharp 5. Likewise, Major and Minor chords refer to a change in the 3rd interval, with minor chords having a flat 3.

For those who play by ear or like to improvise:

If you want to play the major scale using chords instead of individual notes, remember that 1 is played as a major chord, 2 and 3 as minors, 4 and 5 as majors, 6 and 7 as minors (7 is technically a diminished chord, because it has a flat 3 and a flat 5), then 8 as a major. So it would be M,m,m,M,M,m,m,M

The basic chord changes are 1,4, and 5. Notice in the previous example that 1,4, and 5 are the chords of the major scale that are played as major chords. This will help you remember that in most songs, when you are playing a chord other than 1,4, or 5, it will usually be played as a minor chord. When in doubt, you can drop 3 from your chord--this is cheating :) and should only be used, in my opinion, until you are familiar with the song and then you should play the proper full chord.

Seventh chords are typically used as transition chords from 1 to 4 and from 5 to 1. Rarely will a seventh chord be used from 1 to 5 or from 4 to 1.

This hub was written in response to some questions about chord construction and use. But, reading back over this, it seems like pretty random information. I hope someone finds this helpful.