Triads, etc. Flashcards
Chords are the harmonic building blocks that are utilized by almost every type of music. If you know all of your major scales, and you learn the formulas for these chords, you will rule the world!!! OK, maybe not, but you will be able to play thousands of songs, almost instantly.
What is the formula for any Major Triad?
1 3 5 of any major scale
Example: C major triad is C E G
C (1st note of C major scale)
E (3rd note of C major scale)
G (5th note of C major scale)
C Major Triad Chord Symbol: C
What is the formula for any Minor Triad?
1 b3 5 of any major scale
Example: C minor triad is C Eb G
C (1st note of C major scale)
Eb (flat 3rd note of C major scale)
G (5th note of C major scale)
C Minor Triad Chord Symbol:
C- or Cmin or Cmi or Cm
What is the formula for any Augmented Triad?
1 3 #5 of any major scale
Example: C augmented triad is C E G#
C (1st note of C major scale)
E (3rd note of C major scale)
G# (sharp 5th note of C major scale)
C Augmented Triad Chord Symbol:
C+ or C+5 or Caug
What is the formula for any Diminished Triad?
1 b3 b5 of any major scale
Example: C diminished triad is C Eb Gb
C (1st note of C major scale)
Eb (flat 3rd note of C major scale)
Gb (flat 5th note of C major scale)
C Diminished Triad Chord Symbol: C° or Cdim
What is the formula for any sus chord (aka sus4)?
1 4 5 of any major scale
Example: C sus (suspended) is C F G
C (1st note of C major scale)
F (4th note of C major scale)
G (5th note of C major scale)
C Sus Chord Symbol: Csus or Csus4
What is the formula for any sus2 chord?
1 2 5 of any major scale
Example: C sus2 is C D G
C (1st note of C major scale)
D (2nd note of C major scale)
G (5th note of C major scale)
C sus2 Chord Symbol: Csus2
What is the formula for any Major Sixth Chord?
1 3 5 6 of any major scale
Example: C major sixth chord is C E G A
C (1st note of C major scale)
E (3rd note of C major scale)
G (5th note of C major scale)
A (6th note of C major scale)
C Major Sixth Chord Symbol: C6
What is the formula for any Minor Sixth Chord?
1 b3 5 6 of any major scale
Example: C major sixth chord is C Eb G A
C (1st note of C major scale)
Eb (flat 3rd note of C major scale)
G (5th note of C major scale)
A (6th note of C major scale)
C Minor Sixth Chord Symbol: C-6
What is the formula for any Power Chord?
1 5 of any major scale
Example: C power chord is C G
C (1st note of C major scale)
G (5th note of C major scale)
C Power Chord Symbol: C5
Rock On!
