What Are Chords?
Chords are combinations of 2 or more notes. There are different types of chords which have different characteristics based on the synergy between the individual notes played within that chord, this is called the "tonality". Basic chords can sound happy (major tonality) or sad (minor tonality), but a variety of tonalities are available to us through the use of extended chords. There are dozens of different tonalities available to us in music, however the ones we'll be focusing on for the moment are Major, Minor, Suspended 2nd, Suspended 4th, Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th, and Diminished 7th.
Chords are made up of the '1st' (this is your root note), '3rd' (this is the first note that determines your chord's tonality), and '5th' (a fundamental note that relates to your root note but doesn't affect the tonality of the chord). These 3 notes are called a triad. Seventh chords have those as well as a '7th' on top of the triad (which adds to the complexity of the tonality).
Suspended chords have a '1st', '2nd' or '4th', and a '5th'.
Major 7th chords have a '1st', 'major 3rd', '5th', and 'major 7th'.
Minor 7th chords have a '1st', 'minor 3rd', '5th', and 'minor 7th'.
Dominant 7th chords have a '1st', 'major 3rd', '5th', and 'minor 7th'.
Diminished chords have a '1st', 'minor 3rd', 'diminished 5th', and 'diminished 7th'.
Building Chords:
Many aspects of music rely heavily on mathematic principles, and chords are no different, this is why we have a variety of different 'formulas' that we can use to create chords. These formulas indicate the number of notes you need to count up from in order to create the desired chord.
Chords are combinations of 2 or more notes. There are different types of chords which have different characteristics based on the synergy between the individual notes played within that chord, this is called the "tonality". Basic chords can sound happy (major tonality) or sad (minor tonality), but a variety of tonalities are available to us through the use of extended chords. There are dozens of different tonalities available to us in music, however the ones we'll be focusing on for the moment are Major, Minor, Suspended 2nd, Suspended 4th, Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th, and Diminished 7th.
Chords are made up of the '1st' (this is your root note), '3rd' (this is the first note that determines your chord's tonality), and '5th' (a fundamental note that relates to your root note but doesn't affect the tonality of the chord). These 3 notes are called a triad. Seventh chords have those as well as a '7th' on top of the triad (which adds to the complexity of the tonality).
Suspended chords have a '1st', '2nd' or '4th', and a '5th'.
Major 7th chords have a '1st', 'major 3rd', '5th', and 'major 7th'.
Minor 7th chords have a '1st', 'minor 3rd', '5th', and 'minor 7th'.
Dominant 7th chords have a '1st', 'major 3rd', '5th', and 'minor 7th'.
Diminished chords have a '1st', 'minor 3rd', 'diminished 5th', and 'diminished 7th'.
Building Chords:
Many aspects of music rely heavily on mathematic principles, and chords are no different, this is why we have a variety of different 'formulas' that we can use to create chords. These formulas indicate the number of notes you need to count up from in order to create the desired chord.
The tonality of the chord is listed on the left, and the formula for that chord is listed on the right.
All of the examples below will start on C, this is standard for explaining musical principles. However, these principles apply to all chords no matter what note we decide to start on.
In order to find a C Major chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 4 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E (this is your major '3rd', the note that determines the major tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of E on your keyboard (including any black notes) F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). C E and G are the three notes in a C Major chord.
In order to find a C Major chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 4 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E (this is your major '3rd', the note that determines the major tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of E on your keyboard (including any black notes) F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). C E and G are the three notes in a C Major chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a C Major chord (C, E, and G). The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.
In order to find a C Minor chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 3 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, Eb(this is your minor '3rd', the note that determines the minor tonality of your chord), then count 4 notes to the right of Eb on your keyboard (including any black notes) F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). C Eb and G are the three notes in a C minor chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a C Minor Chord (C, Eb, and G.) The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.
You'll notice the root note, and the 5th for both C Major, and C Minor are the same (C, and G), this is because the middle note (your 3rd) is what determines the tonality of your chord. You'll also notice the different between a Major chord and a Minor chord is a flattened '3rd', (E becomes Eb), this is the way major chords becomes minor chords. So if you know how to find a major chord, you now how to make the minor version of that chord.
Suspended Chords:
Suspended chords are chords that don't necessarily have a major or minor tonality when played by themselves, but often resolve up or down to a major or minor tonality when in the context of a chord progression (as though they are chords hanging, or suspended in mid-air). We use suspended chords to create tension and release within chord progressions in music.
In order to find a Csus2 chord, you start at C (this is your 1st, or root note), count 2 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D (this is your suspended '2nd', the note that determines the suspension of the chord), then count 5 notes to the right of D on your keyboard (including any black notes) D#, E, F, F#, G, this is your '5th'. C D and G are the three notes in a Csus2 chord.
You'll notice the root note, and the 5th for both C Major, and C Minor are the same (C, and G), this is because the middle note (your 3rd) is what determines the tonality of your chord. You'll also notice the different between a Major chord and a Minor chord is a flattened '3rd', (E becomes Eb), this is the way major chords becomes minor chords. So if you know how to find a major chord, you now how to make the minor version of that chord.
Suspended Chords:
Suspended chords are chords that don't necessarily have a major or minor tonality when played by themselves, but often resolve up or down to a major or minor tonality when in the context of a chord progression (as though they are chords hanging, or suspended in mid-air). We use suspended chords to create tension and release within chord progressions in music.
In order to find a Csus2 chord, you start at C (this is your 1st, or root note), count 2 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D (this is your suspended '2nd', the note that determines the suspension of the chord), then count 5 notes to the right of D on your keyboard (including any black notes) D#, E, F, F#, G, this is your '5th'. C D and G are the three notes in a Csus2 chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a Csus2 chord (C, D, and G.) The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.
In order to find a Csus4 chord, you start at C (this is your 1st, or root note), count 5 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E, F (this is your suspended '4th', the note that determines the suspension of the chord), then count 2 notes to the right of F on your keyboard (including any black notes) F#, G, this is your '5th'. C F and G are the three notes in a Csus4 chord.
In order to find a Csus4 chord, you start at C (this is your 1st, or root note), count 5 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E, F (this is your suspended '4th', the note that determines the suspension of the chord), then count 2 notes to the right of F on your keyboard (including any black notes) F#, G, this is your '5th'. C F and G are the three notes in a Csus4 chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a Csus4 chord (C, F, and G.) The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.
You'll notice the root note, and the 5th for both Csus2, and Csus4 are the same (C, and G), this is because the middle note (your 2nd) is what determines the suspension of your chord. You'll also notice the difference between a Minor chord and a sus2 chord is a flattened (lowered by one note) '3rd', (Eb becomes D), this is the way minor chords becomes sus2 chords. You'll also notice the difference between a Major chord and a sus4 chord is an augmented (raised by one note) '3rd' (E becomes F). So if you know how to find major, and minor chords, you now how to make the suspended versions of both of those chords.
Seventh Chords - Minor/Major 7th:
Seventh chords allow us to create more complex tonality and tension within our basic major and minor chords. These chords are built on top of the basic major and minor chords explained above and often sound much more pleasing to the ear because of their harmonic complexity and lusciousness.
In order to find a C Major 7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 4 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E (this is your major '3rd', the note that determines the major tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of E on your keyboard (including any black notes) F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). Then count 4 notes to the right of G on your keyboard (including any black notes) G#, A, A#, B (this is your '7th') C E G and B are the four notes in a C Major 7 chord.
You'll notice the root note, and the 5th for both Csus2, and Csus4 are the same (C, and G), this is because the middle note (your 2nd) is what determines the suspension of your chord. You'll also notice the difference between a Minor chord and a sus2 chord is a flattened (lowered by one note) '3rd', (Eb becomes D), this is the way minor chords becomes sus2 chords. You'll also notice the difference between a Major chord and a sus4 chord is an augmented (raised by one note) '3rd' (E becomes F). So if you know how to find major, and minor chords, you now how to make the suspended versions of both of those chords.
Seventh Chords - Minor/Major 7th:
Seventh chords allow us to create more complex tonality and tension within our basic major and minor chords. These chords are built on top of the basic major and minor chords explained above and often sound much more pleasing to the ear because of their harmonic complexity and lusciousness.
In order to find a C Major 7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 4 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E (this is your major '3rd', the note that determines the major tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of E on your keyboard (including any black notes) F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). Then count 4 notes to the right of G on your keyboard (including any black notes) G#, A, A#, B (this is your '7th') C E G and B are the four notes in a C Major 7 chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a C Major 7 chord (C, E, G, and B). The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.
In order to find a C Minor 7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 3 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, Eb (this is your minor '3rd', the note that determines the minor tonality of your chord), then count 4 notes to the right of Eb on your keyboard (including any black notes) E, F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). Then count 3 notes to the right of G on your keyboard (including any black notes) G#, A, Bb (this is your 'minor 7th') C Eb G and Bb are the four notes in a C Minor 7 chord.
In order to find a C Minor 7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 3 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, Eb (this is your minor '3rd', the note that determines the minor tonality of your chord), then count 4 notes to the right of Eb on your keyboard (including any black notes) E, F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). Then count 3 notes to the right of G on your keyboard (including any black notes) G#, A, Bb (this is your 'minor 7th') C Eb G and Bb are the four notes in a C Minor 7 chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a C Minor 7 chord (C, Eb, G, and Bb). The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.
Seventh Chords - Dominant 7th:
In order to find a C7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 4 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E (this is your major '3rd', the note that determines the major tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of E on your keyboard (including any black notes) F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). Then count 3 notes to the right of G on your keyboard (including any black notes) G#, A, Bb (this is your 'Minor 7th'). A minor 7th stacked on top of a Major chord triad is what gives you a Dominant 7th chord. C E G and Bb are the four notes in a C7 chord.
Seventh Chords - Dominant 7th:
In order to find a C7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 4 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, D#, E (this is your major '3rd', the note that determines the major tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of E on your keyboard (including any black notes) F, F#, G (this is your '5th'). Then count 3 notes to the right of G on your keyboard (including any black notes) G#, A, Bb (this is your 'Minor 7th'). A minor 7th stacked on top of a Major chord triad is what gives you a Dominant 7th chord. C E G and Bb are the four notes in a C7 chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a C7 chord (C, E, G, and Bb). The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.
Seventh Chords - Diminished 7th:
In order to find a Cdim7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 3 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, Eb (this is your minor '3rd', the note that determines the minor tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of Eb on your keyboard (including any black notes) E, F, Gb (this is your 'diminished 5th', the note that makes it a diminished chord). Then count 3 notes to the right of Gb on your keyboard (including any black notes) G, G#, Bbb (A) (this is your 'diminished 7th') C Eb Gb and Bbb (A) are the four notes in a Cdim7 chord.
Seventh Chords - Diminished 7th:
In order to find a Cdim7 chord, you start at C (this is your '1st', or root note), count 3 notes to the right of C on your keyboard (including any black notes) C#, D, Eb (this is your minor '3rd', the note that determines the minor tonality of your chord), then count 3 notes to the right of Eb on your keyboard (including any black notes) E, F, Gb (this is your 'diminished 5th', the note that makes it a diminished chord). Then count 3 notes to the right of Gb on your keyboard (including any black notes) G, G#, Bbb (A) (this is your 'diminished 7th') C Eb Gb and Bbb (A) are the four notes in a Cdim7 chord.
The notes highlighted in red are the notes in a Cdim7 chord (C, Eb, G, and Bbb). The numbers are the notes we've counted up from the notes highlighted in red.