Chords
ChordCombination of two or more notes played simultaneously
RootSingle note from which a chord is built
TriadA chord consisting of three notes played simultaneously
Intervals
There are different kinds of chords, depending on the intervals between each of the notes that compose it. To better understand chords, you should understand these intervals first. You can learn by playing different intervals on your instrument to hear them out and/or reading about them: : [1] [2]
In tablatures, chords will be identified by their root note (A-G) followed by the chord notation. If you see only the root note, you're looking at a major chord (or major triad).
This table shows how each chord is built. The intervals are displayed alongside the number of semitones from the root for each interval that makes up each chord.
NameNotationIntervalsSemitones
Major Triad
P1 M3 P5
0-4-7
Minor Triad
m
P1 m3 P5
0-3-7
Major Sixth
6
P1 M3 P5 M6
0-4-7-9
Dominant Seventh
7
P1 M3 P5 m7
0-4-7-10
Major Seventh
maj7
P1 M3 P5 M7
0-4-7-11
Major Ninth
maj9
P1 M3 P5 M7 P9
0-4-7-11-14
Augmented Triad
+
P1 M3 aug5
0-4-8
Augmented Seventh
7+
P1 M3 aug5 m7
0-4-8-10
Minor Sixth
m6
P1 m3 P5 M6
0-3-7-9
Minor Seventh
m7
P1 m3 P5 m7
0-3-7-10
Minor-major Seventh
mM7
P1 m3 P5 M7
0-3-7-11
Diminished Triad
dim
P1 M3 dim5
0-4-5
Diminished Seventh
7dim
P1 M3 dim5 dim7
0-4-5-9
Half-diminished Seventh
7*
P1 M3 P5 m7
0-4-7-10
Suspended Fourth
sus4
P1 P4 P5
0-5-7
Suspended Second
sus2
P1 M2 P5
0-2-7
Double Suspended
sus2sus4
P1 M2 P4 P5
0-2-5-7
Seventh Suspended Fourth
7sus4
P1 P4 P5 M7
0-5-7-11
Seventh Suspended Second
7sus2
P1 M2 P5 m7
0-2-7-10
Added Fourth
add4
P1 M3 P4 P5
0-4-5-7
Added Ninth
add9
P1 M3 P5 P9
0-4-7-14
Added Second
2
P1 M2 M3 P5
0-2-4-7