FREE ONILNE LESSONS (Forming Major & Minor Chords)

A chord is a combination of different notes that forms a harmony, and chords are the backbone to every song. Firstly, let's understand that there is no one fix formula to forming a chord, and non of these formulas are right or wrong. However, if there has to be one rightful formula to forming a chord, it will be through scales. Understanding know your scales well will give you a great understanding to basic chord formation and every complex extension chords. Because every chord is literally derive from its scale. A chord is a combination of different notes that forms a harmony. For now, focus on the two most generic chords: Major chords & Minor chords.

Formula: To form any major or minor chord, take the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of its respective scale. For instance, to form C major chord, you will first construct C major scale.

In written notation, C major chord (e.g.) is written with a capital letter C and C minor chord (e.g.) is written with a capital letter C, followed by a small letter m that represents minor.

These are the 12 different major chords and 12 different minor chords.

Now, as we mentioned there are many formulas to forming a chord besides using scales, an alternative way is to use spacing (or semitone notes) in between each note in a chord. This may be an easier way for starters.

Formula:

Major chord

There are 3 semitone notes in between 1st note & 3rd note of the chord

There are 2 semitone notes in between 3rd note & 5th note of the chord

Minor chord

There are 2 semitone notes in between 1st note & 3rd note of the chord

There are 3 semitone notes in between 3rd note & 5th note of the chord

So for example, in a C major chord,

The 3 semitones notes are (C#, D, D#) in between 1st note (C) & 3rd (E) note

The 2 semitones notes are (F, F#) in between 3rd note (E) & 5th (G) note

And in an example of a minor chord, Cm,

The 2 semitones notes are (C#, D) in between 1st note (C) & 3rd (Eb) note

The 2 semitones notes are (E, F, F#) in between 3rd note (Eb) & 5th (G) note

Now, for another alternate formula to forming a chord. This formula will be useful when you need to form a particular minor chord that you are not familiar with, but you are familiar with that particular major chord, and vice versa.

Formula: To form a minor chord, take the major chord and flat (transpose down by semitone) the 3rd note. For instance to form a Cm chord, take the C chord and flat the E note.

Vice versa, to form a major chord, take the minor chord and sharp the 3 rd note.