Guitar Chord Formulas - Simple Recipes For Building Any Chord

Have you ever needed to know how to play aExamples of the A Major Scale as built from the
particular chord on your guitar but did not have aChromatic Scale:
chord chart handy? Solving this common problemChromatic A-Scale: A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G
can be as simple as learning the formulas forG#
building the different chord types. Here are someMajor Chord Formula = 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th,
basic tips for getting started:10th and 12th notes of the Chromatic Scale
1. Start With Learning The Chromatic ScaleThis isA Major Scale = A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#
the grandmother of all chords. It contains all 12 of3. Learn How A Chord Is Derived From Its
the notes used to form any scale or chord. TheDiatonic Scale
interval or space between each note of theWe have already established that a Diatonic Scale
chromatic scale, (and also between each fret oncomes from a specific combination of some of
the guitar), is called a half step. An interval of twothe notes its Chromatic Scale. In a similar fashion,
half steps is then logically called a whole step. Herea Chord is derived from a portion of the notes
is an example of the chromatic scale notesfound in its Diatonic Scale. The chart below
starting with the A:illustrates how one type of Diatonic Scale, the
A , A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G and G#Major Scale, is used to produce a Major Chord.
Note: The notes B# and E# do not exist as partThe Major Chord Formula
of any scale or chord which is why they do notA Simple Major Chord is comprised of the 1st
appear above. Also, scales only utilize the letters(the root), 3rd and 5th notes of a Major Scale.
A through G before repeating.Take a look below at how an A Major Chord is
2. Next Learn The Common Diatonic Scaleformed from its Parent A Major Scale.
FormulasThe A Major Scale: A B C# D E F# G#
Every common chord is derived from its DiatonicThe Major Chord Formula = 1st, 3rd,and 5th
Scale which comes from a specific combination ofnotes of the Major Scale
notes that utilize both half step and full stepThe A Major Chord = A C# E
intervals from the Chromatic Scale.Note: Simultaneously playing the notes A,C# and E
Major Diatonic Scales, for example, are comprisedwill always produce the A Major Chord.
of only 7 notes out of the 12 Chromatics. The4. Learn Chords Variations
first note of the scale, called the root note, givesObviously there are many variations of the Major,
the scale its letter name A,B,C etc. The formulaminor, Dominant 7th, Augmented and Diminished
for deciding which 6 notes to play after the rootchords. It may not be practical or even necessary
note is where a scale gets the second part of itsfor you to memorize every possible chord
name; major, minor, etc.variation. This may be true even if you plan to be
The formula for the Major scale is derived froma top notch Jazz Guitarist. Concentrate instead on
the chromatic scale as follows. Pick any note ofthe common chords that you see in the music
the Chromatic Scale as the 1st note then jump tothat you are playing currently.
the 3rd , 5th , 6th , 8th , 10th, 12th notes fromIf a song calls for a C7 chord, do not just look it
that point. These notes will form the seven notesup on a chord chart but, also look up the formula
of the Major Scale with the same letter name asfor calculating the other chords in that family.
the 1st or root note.Slowly your toolbox will be filled with many
If the first note is a C# then this formula willmemorized chords and also, the greater
generate the 7 notes of the C# Major scale. Ifunderstanding that comes from knowing how to
the root is a G note then a G Major Scale isbuild them.
created and so on.