Guitar chord letters are symbols that denote which notes should appear in a specific chord. Sharps and flats are represented by letters such as b and # respectively – this could be likened to saying it is half past nine or 30 minutes to ten!
Augmented and diminished chords introduce some additional symbols into our language.
Major
Typically, chords fall into one of two categories: major or minor. While major chords produce cheerful sounds when played, minor ones can often produce dissonant tones that leave players feeling distressed and melancholic.
Each major chord consists of three triads – root, third and fifth. By learning the formula for each major chord you can quickly identify most of them.
C major is composed of only three notes: A, C and E; this triad can be moved up or down an octave and still sound like C major, making understanding musical alphabet and scale degrees all the more essential.
Sharps and flats allow you to modify intervals within chords, but that is a topic for another day. At first, simply focus on learning the major chords listed here by their scale degree names – 1 3,5 (C D E or D# D E or F#), along with their extension notes (9b9 11 13 (C D D# E F#). This method of learning chords on guitar is highly effective.
Minor
Minor chords are equally essential and useful to the development of guitarists. Like major chords, minor chords are composed of three notes from their respective major scales arranged in triad form; the difference being that minor chords are played a whole step lower.
Minor chords’ moody and expressive qualities come from this change in sound; often all it takes to convert major chords to their minor equivalent is simply lifting off one finger; however, in certain circumstances alternative fingering techniques must be employed instead.
When playing an extended minor chord, its ninth and thirteenth notes can be left out (as shown below). They should instead be replaced with either an augmented or diminished chord symbol to indicate that only some of its notes have been played.
Slash
Just as individual letters sound different when read alone, slash chords have their own distinctive sound. A slash chord simply refers to when the bass note of a chord (such as C slash G in this example) does not correspond with its root note (C in this instance). These voicings can be written out with one letter representing each chord on one side and bass note on the other, and read as either “C over B” or “G over B”.
Slash chords make an excellent accompaniment to their respective major or minor chords, providing an attractive transition between two chords with similar finger positions and progressions such as I-IV-V in pop music. Furthermore, their use allows a smooth progression without awkward finger position shifts between each chord – for instance in “Jessie’s Girl”, there is an incredible example where G/B bridges between C and D!
Altered
If you see a chord symbol with multiple sharps and flats, it could be an altered chord. Alterations change the tone by raising or lowering it by 1/2 step.
Raising the 5th of a dominant seventh chord to form a #5, or flattening it to form a b5, is an approach used by musicians to alter it to form borrowed chords which take advantage of other chords in its same key for their fifth.
Altered chords can add tension that does not immediately resolve when resolved to the root key, adding suspense by shifting slightly off course from what came before or after them.
Once you understand the root notes and letter names, chord construction can begin. Triads are among the simplest types of chords.
Slash chords use a second letter to denote a different note to be played at the same fret. Remember that sharps represent one step up from flats.
A Major Chord
Chords consist of an unison bass note accompanied by one or more notes above it, depending on their composition; major or minor chords can result from this combination.
Notes within a chord may be written using any letter from the musical alphabet, including flat letters. This can help when deciphering guitar chord diagrams or tabs.
A C major triad consists of its root note, a minor third (also known as a flat third), and a perfect fifth. These intervals give the chord its sad sound.
B Minor Chord
B minor chord is an easy, yet often neglected chord that can be played on nearly every guitar. It consists of the B note, D note and F# note in its minor triad form.
Understanding open chords is the cornerstone of guitar playing, and our course covers 24 common open chords along with several songs to practice them with!
C Major Chord
The C major chord is an essential tool for many musicians. You may recognize it from songs by Aretha Franklin such as Chain of Fools or Creedence Clearwater Revival such as Run Through the Jungle where it features prominently.
This open triad, using only three out of six strings, makes it more straightforward to finger than some of the other triads discussed here.
D Minor Chord
D minor is an emotive chord used widely in popular songs. By practicing various techniques for playing it, you’ll build up your skillset and expand your repertoire.
Chords can be written using various means, including using slashes as in a “slash chord”. (No relation with Slash the guitarist.)
Test out these different voicings until you find one you like best, adding different extensions for a fuller sound.
E Major Chord
The E Major Chord is a three-note chord composed of only E, B and C — also referred to as an E Major Triad.
Major triads consist of notes 1, 3, and 5 from their relevant scale. If you wish to create a seventh chord, an extra note (known as a sus note ) can be added; these so-called sus chords can add tension to a melody.
F Major Chord
Learning chord shapes is challenging enough; learning this one may be especially tricky for newcomers. Practice until it sounds right!
An effective way to practice this chord is with a partial barre version (see Em lesson for how to finger this). This makes it much simpler and helps position your thumb behind the neck in its proper spot.
G Major Chord
G Major is a timeless key, commonly found in hymns and traditional music; yet, it also finds use in pop and rock genres. Used solo as a note it produces some impressive results.
G Major chord is used in both British and New Zealand national anthems and in songs by Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and AC/DC – it comprises notes G, B and D which comprise what is known as G Major.
H Major Chord
Major chords are triads consisting of three notes–a root note, major third note and perfect fifth–formed into a complete circle with M or Maj for designation. They are commonly marked with only the root note or with M to signify its importance.
There are various techniques for building chords on the fretboard and each has its own distinct sound, yet all chord shapes share similar fundamentals when it comes to construction.
I Major Chord
An elementary major chord consists of three notes. However, due to six strings on a guitar you need additional notes in order to form the appropriate chord.
Another variation is a sus4 chord, which adds the 4th note to the stack. This works well next to either major or minor chords.
Altered chords can be more confusing. These consist of the 1st, flat 3rd, 5th and sharp 7th notes of a scale.
J Major Chord
These chords can add suspenseful tension to your progressions when played directly before or after major or minor chords, especially if done so in keys that match up with their respective root notes.
Others symbols and abbreviations are used to indicate specific modifications (for instance, an addition or subtraction is indicated with certain abbreviations or symbols; an example would be: an add chord contains an extra note while an omit 5 chord indicates fifth suspension). Chords that feature a # signify that their sixth is reduced in strength.