Chords DeMystified!

 

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Learn to construct chords in 3 easy steps!

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Chords are built from the major scale & the notes in any major scale can be derived from this pattern:

W W H W W W H

 

	W:	whole step (tone)
	H:	half step (semitone)

Let's try constructing chords for the G major scale:

Step 1: Find the notes in the G major scale using the pattern:

G

A

B

C

D

E

F#

G

W

W

H

W

W

W

H

Step 2: Number the notes (also known as "scale tones"):

 

G	A	B	C	D	E	F#	G	A	B	C	D	E
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13

Step 3: Construct chord by applying the appropriate chord pattern:

For example:
1. Major chords are constructed from 1 3 5 of the major scale:

G major:

G

B

D

2. Minor chords are constructed from 1 ^b3 5 of the major scale:

G minor:

G

Bb

D

Chord Pattern List:

Chord Patterns		Examples
Major	1 3 5	G: G B D
Minor	1 b3 5	Gm: G Bb D
Dominant 7	1 3 5 b7	G7: G B D F
Major 7	1 3 5 7	Gmaj7: G B D F#
Minor 7	1 b3 5 b7	Gm7: G Bb D F
Add 9	1 3 5 9	Gadd9: G B D A
Suspended 4	1 4 5	Gsus4: G C D

Congratulations! You can now start to construct the chords that you want!