Chord names, symbols and formulas

Every chord type with its symbol spellings, formula in scale degrees, semitones and the names it also goes by.

Every chord type Fretly knows, with the ways people write and say it. Use it to decode a chart, or to find a chord in the app: the Chord Types search on the Chords page accepts every spelling and name on this page, and full symbols such as Ebmaj7#5.

How to read a formula. The numbers are scale degrees counted from the root against the major scale: 1 3 5 is a major triad, b3 lowers the third, #5 raises the fifth, 9 11 13 are the 2nd, 4th and 6th an octave up. The semitone list is the same chord as distances from the root in half steps (0 = root).

Symbols are shown on C. Read Cmaj7#5, CM7#5 as: the same chord written two ways.

Triads

  • Major (symbols: C, CM, Cmaj, Cma, CΔ) - formula 1 3 5 - semitones 0 4 7 - also called: major triad, major chord, major
  • minor (symbols: Cm, Cmin, C-, Cmi) - formula 1 b3 5 - semitones 0 3 7 - also called: minor triad, minor chord, minor
  • Augmented (symbols: Caug, C+, C#5, C(#5), C+5) - formula 1 3 #5 - semitones 0 4 8 - also called: augmented triad, augmented chord, sharp five triad, augmented
  • Diminished (symbols: Cdim, C°, Cmb5, C-b5, Minor b5, Co, Cm(b5)) - formula 1 b3 b5 - semitones 0 3 6 - also called: diminished triad, diminished chord, minor flat five, Locrian triad, diminished

Non-Strict Triads

  • Suspended 2 (symbols: C2, Csus2, C(sus2)) - formula 1 2 5 - semitones 0 2 7 - also called: suspended second, suspended 2nd chord, sus two, sus2 chord
  • Suspended 4 (symbols: C4, Csus4, Csus, C(sus4)) - formula 1 4 5 - semitones 0 5 7 - also called: suspended fourth, suspended chord, sus four, sus4 chord, suspended 4th
  • Major b5 (symbols: Cmajb5, Cmaj(b5), C(b5), Cb5, CMb5) - formula 1 3 b5 - semitones 0 4 6 - also called: major flat five, flat-five triad, Lydian triad, major b5 triad
  • aug sus2 (symbols: C+sus2, Caugsus2, Csus2#5, Csus2(#5)) - formula 1 2 #5 - semitones 0 2 8 - also called: augmented sus2, sus2 sharp five, suspended second augmented
  • aug sus4 (symbols: C+sus4, Caugsus4, Csus4#5, Csus4(#5)) - formula 1 4 #5 - semitones 0 5 8 - also called: augmented sus4, sus4 sharp five, suspended fourth augmented
  • sus b2 (symbols: Csusb2, Csus(b2)) - formula 1 b2 5 - semitones 0 1 7 - also called: sus flat two, suspended flat second, Phrygian sus, sus b9
  • sus #4 (symbols: Csus#4, Csus(#4), Csus#11) - formula 1 #4 5 - semitones 0 6 7 - also called: sus sharp four, suspended sharp fourth, Lydian sus, sus #11
  • aug sus b2 (symbols: C+susb2, Caugsusb2, Csusb2#5) - formula 1 b2 #5 - semitones 0 1 8 - also called: augmented sus flat two, sus b2 sharp five
  • aug sus #4 (symbols: C+sus#4, Caugsus#4, Csus#4#5) - formula 1 #4 #5 - semitones 0 6 8 - also called: augmented sus sharp four, sus #4 sharp five
  • sus2 b5 (symbols: Csus2b5, Csus2(b5)) - formula 1 2 b5 - semitones 0 2 6 - also called: sus2 flat five, suspended second flat five
  • sus b2 b5 (symbols: Csusb2b5, Csus(b2b5)) - formula 1 b2 b5 - semitones 0 1 6 - also called: sus flat two flat five, Locrian sus
  • sus4 b5 (symbols: Csus4b5, Csus4(b5)) - formula 1 4 b5 - semitones 0 5 6 - also called: sus4 flat five, suspended fourth flat five

Dyads

  • Power chord (symbols: C5, C(no3), Cno3) - formula 1 5 - semitones 0 7 - also called: power chord, fifth chord, open fifth, perfect fifth dyad, bare fifth

Added Tone

  • Major 6 (symbols: C6, Cmaj6, CM6, Cadd6, Cadd13, Cma6) - formula 1 3 5 6 - semitones 0 4 7 9 - also called: major sixth chord, sixth chord, major six, added sixth
  • minor 6 (symbols: Cm6, Cmin6, C-6, Cmi6, Cmadd6) - formula 1 b3 5 6 - semitones 0 3 7 9 - also called: minor sixth chord, minor six, minor added sixth, Dorian chord
  • Add 2 (symbols: Cadd9, Cadd2, C(add9), C(add2)) - formula 1 2 3 5 - semitones 0 2 4 7 - also called: added ninth, add nine, added second, add two, major add 9, major add 2
  • minor add 9 (symbols: Cmadd9, Cmadd2, Cm(add9), Cm(add2), C-add9, Cmin(add9)) - formula 1 2 b3 5 - semitones 0 2 3 7 - also called: minor added ninth, minor add nine, minor add two, minor add 2
  • Add 4 (symbols: Cadd4, Cadd11, C(add4), C(add11)) - formula 1 3 4 5 - semitones 0 4 5 7 - also called: added fourth, add four, add eleven, major add 11, major add 4
  • minor Add 4 (symbols: Cmadd4, Cmadd11, Cm(add4), Cm(add11), C-add4) - formula 1 b3 4 5 - semitones 0 3 5 7 - also called: minor added fourth, minor add four, minor add eleven, minor add 11
  • Add #4 (symbols: Cadd#4, C#4, Cadd#11, C#11, C(add#11), Cadd+4, Cadd+11) - formula 1 3 #4 5 - semitones 0 4 6 7 - also called: added sharp four, add sharp eleven, add #11, Lydian add chord, major add sharp four
  • Sus4 add 2 (symbols: Csus4add2, Csus2add4, Csus2sus4, C4add2, Csus24, Csus2/4, Csus4add9, Csus4(add9)) - formula 1 2 4 5 - semitones 0 2 5 7 - also called: sus2 sus4, suspended two four, sus4 add 9, sus4 add 2, double suspension
  • Sus2 add 6 (symbols: C6sus2, CSus2add6, Csus2add6, Csus2(add6)) - formula 1 2 5 6 - semitones 0 2 7 9 - also called: sus2 add six, six sus two, suspended second added sixth
  • Major 6/9 (symbols: C6/9, C69, C6add9, C6(add9), Cmaj6/9, CM69, Cmaj69, C6(9)) - formula 1 3 5 6 9 - semitones 0 2 4 7 9 - also called: six nine chord, sixth added ninth, major six nine, six-nine, major sixth ninth

Strict Seventh Chords

  • Major 7 (symbols: Cmaj7, CM7, CΔ, CΔ7, Cma7, Cj7, Cmajor7) - formula 1 3 5 7 - semitones 0 4 7 11 - also called: major seventh, major seven, major 7th chord, delta seven
  • Major 7#5 (symbols: Cmaj7#5, CM7#5, CΔ#5, CΔ7#5, C+Δ7, Cmaj7+5, Cmaj7(#5), Caugmaj7, C+M7, Cj7#5, Cmaj7+, CM7+) - formula 1 3 #5 7 - semitones 0 4 8 11 - also called: augmented major seventh, major seven sharp five, maj7 augmented, major seventh augmented fifth, augmented major 7th
  • minor 7 (symbols: Cm7, Cmin7, C-7, Cmi7, Cminor7) - formula 1 b3 5 b7 - semitones 0 3 7 10 - also called: minor seventh, minor seven, minor 7th chord
  • minor Maj7 (symbols: CmMaj7, CmM7, Cm(maj7), C-Δ7, Cminmaj7, Cmj7, Cm#7, C-M7, CminMaj7, Cm(M7), CmΔ7, C-maj7) - formula 1 b3 5 7 - semitones 0 3 7 11 - also called: minor major seventh, minor with major seven, minor-major 7, minor natural seven, Hitchcock chord
  • Half-dim (symbols: Cm7b5, Cø, Cø7, Cmin7b5, Cm7(b5), C-7b5, Chalf-dim, Chalfdim, Cm7-5, Cmi7b5) - formula 1 b3 b5 b7 - semitones 0 3 6 10 - also called: half-diminished seventh, half diminished, minor seven flat five, half-diminished chord, minor 7 b5
  • Diminished 7 (symbols: Cdim7, C°7, Co7, Cdiminished7) - formula 1 b3 b5 bb7 - semitones 0 3 6 9 - also called: diminished seventh, fully diminished, full diminished seventh, diminished 7th chord, dim seven
  • Dom 7 (symbols: C7, Cdom7, Cdom, Cdominant7, Cseventh) - formula 1 3 5 b7 - semitones 0 4 7 10 - also called: dominant seventh, dominant seven, seventh chord, dominant 7th chord, seven chord

Non-Strict Seventh Chords

  • Major 7b5 (symbols: Cmaj7b5, CM7b5, Cmaj7(b5), CΔb5, CΔ7b5, Cmaj7-5) - formula 1 3 b5 7 - semitones 0 4 6 11 - also called: major seven flat five, major seventh flat fifth, maj7 b5
  • minor Maj7b5 (symbols: CmMaj7b5, CmM7b5, C°Δ7, CdimMaj7, CdimM7, Cm(maj7)b5, C°M7) - formula 1 b3 b5 7 - semitones 0 3 6 11 - also called: minor major seven flat five, diminished major seventh, dim maj7, diminished triad with major seventh
  • 7#5 (symbols: C7+5, Caug7, C+7, C7(#5), C7+, Cdom7#5, C7aug) - formula 1 3 #5 b7 - semitones 0 4 8 10 - also called: augmented seventh, dominant seven sharp five, seven sharp five, seventh augmented fifth, aug seven
  • 7b5 (symbols: C7(b5), C7-5, Cdom7b5) - formula 1 3 b5 b7 - semitones 0 4 6 10 - also called: dominant seven flat five, seven flat five, seventh flat fifth
  • Dom 7sus4 (symbols: C7sus4, C7sus, Cdom7sus4, C7(sus4)) - formula 1 4 5 b7 - semitones 0 5 7 10 - also called: dominant seven sus four, seven sus, suspended dominant seventh, seventh suspended fourth, 7 sus 4
  • Major 7 sus4 (symbols: Cmaj7sus4, CM7sus4, CΔsus4, CΔ7sus4, Cmaj7sus, CM7sus) - formula 1 4 5 7 - semitones 0 5 7 11 - also called: major seven sus four, major seventh suspended fourth, maj7 sus

Ninths

  • Dom 9 (symbols: C9, Cdom9, C7/9, C7(9), Cdominant9) - formula 1 3 5 b7 9 - semitones 0 2 4 7 10 - also called: dominant ninth, ninth chord, dominant nine, nine chord, dominant 9th
  • Major 9 (symbols: Cmaj9, CM9, CΔ9, Cj9, Cmaj7(9), Cmaj7add9, Cma9, Cmajor9) - formula 1 3 5 7 9 - semitones 0 2 4 7 11 - also called: major ninth, major nine, major 9th chord, major seventh ninth
  • minor 9 (symbols: Cm9, Cmin9, C-9, Cmi9, Cm7(9), Cm7add9, Cminor9) - formula 1 b3 5 b7 9 - semitones 0 2 3 7 10 - also called: minor ninth, minor nine, minor 9th chord
  • minor Maj9 (symbols: CmMaj9, CmM9, CminMaj9, C-Δ9, Cm(maj9), CmΔ9, C-M9) - formula 1 b3 5 7 9 - semitones 0 2 3 7 11 - also called: minor major ninth, minor major nine, minor-major 9
  • 9sus4 (symbols: C9sus, C7sus4(9), Csus9, C9(sus4), Cdom9sus4) - formula 1 4 5 b7 9 - semitones 0 2 5 7 10 - also called: nine sus four, dominant ninth suspended, sus nine, ninth suspended fourth, 9 sus

Elevenths

  • Dom 11 (symbols: C11, Cdom11, C7/11, Cdominant11) - formula 1 3 5 b7 9 11 - semitones 0 2 4 5 7 10 - also called: dominant eleventh, eleventh chord, dominant eleven, dominant 11th
  • minor 11 (symbols: Cm11, Cmin11, C-11, Cmi11, Cminor11) - formula 1 b3 5 b7 9 11 - semitones 0 2 3 5 7 10 - also called: minor eleventh, minor eleven, minor 11th chord
  • Major 11 (symbols: Cmaj11, CM11, CΔ11, Cma11, Cmajor11) - formula 1 3 5 7 9 11 - semitones 0 2 4 5 7 11 - also called: major eleventh, major eleven, major 11th chord
  • 7 add 4 (symbols: C7add4, C7add11, C7(add11), C7(add4), Cdom7add4, C7/4) - formula 1 3 4 5 b7 - semitones 0 4 5 7 10 - also called: dominant seven add four, seven add eleven, seventh added fourth, 7 add 11
  • Major 7 add 4 (symbols: Cmaj7add4, CM7add4, Cmaj7add11, CM7add11, CΔadd11, CΔ7add4, Cmaj7(add11)) - formula 1 3 4 5 7 - semitones 0 4 5 7 11 - also called: major seven add four, major seven add eleven, major seventh added fourth, maj7 add 11

Thirteenths

  • Dom 13 (symbols: C13, Cdom13, C7/13, Cdominant13) - formula 1 3 5 b7 9 11 13 - semitones 0 2 4 5 7 9 10 - also called: dominant thirteenth, thirteenth chord, dominant thirteen, dominant 13th
  • Major 13 (symbols: Cmaj13, CM13, CΔ13, Cma13, Cmajor13) - formula 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 - semitones 0 2 4 5 7 9 11 - also called: major thirteenth, major thirteen, major 13th chord
  • minor 13 (symbols: Cm13, Cmin13, C-13, Cmi13, Cminor13) - formula 1 b3 5 b7 9 11 13 - semitones 0 2 3 5 7 9 10 - also called: minor thirteenth, minor thirteen, minor 13th chord

Altered

  • 7b9 (symbols: Cphryg, C7(b9), C7-9, Cdom7b9) - formula 1 3 5 b7 b9 - semitones 0 1 4 7 10 - also called: dominant seven flat nine, seven flat nine, seventh flat ninth, Phrygian chord, Spanish chord, dominant b9, Phrygian
  • 7#9 (symbols: C7(#9), C7+9, Cdom7#9) - formula 1 3 5 b7 #9 - semitones 0 3 4 7 10 - also called: dominant seven sharp nine, seven sharp nine, seventh sharp ninth, Hendrix chord, Purple Haze chord, dominant #9
  • 7#11 (symbols: C7(#11), C7+11, Cdom7#11) - formula 1 3 5 b7 #11 - semitones 0 4 6 7 10 - also called: dominant seven sharp eleven, seven sharp eleven, Lydian dominant chord, seventh sharp eleventh, dominant #11
  • Major 7#9 (symbols: Cmaj7#9, CM7#9, CΔ#9, CΔ7#9, Cmaj7(#9), Cmaj7+9) - formula 1 3 5 7 #9 - semitones 0 3 4 7 11 - also called: major seven sharp nine, major seventh sharp ninth
  • Major 7#11 (symbols: Cmaj7#11, CM7#11, CΔ#11, CΔ7#11, Cmaj7(#11), Cmaj7+11, Cj7#11) - formula 1 3 5 7 #11 - semitones 0 4 6 7 11 - also called: major seven sharp eleven, Lydian major seventh, Lydian chord, major seventh sharp eleventh, maj7 #11
  • minor 7#11 (symbols: Cm7#11, Cmin7#11, C-7#11, Cm7(#11), Cmi7#11) - formula 1 b3 5 b7 #11 - semitones 0 3 6 7 10 - also called: minor seven sharp eleven, minor seventh sharp eleventh, m7 #11
  • minor Maj7#11 (symbols: CmMaj7#11, CmM7#11, CminMaj7#11, C-Δ#11, Cm(maj7)#11, CmΔ7#11) - formula 1 b3 5 7 #11 - semitones 0 3 6 7 11 - also called: minor major seven sharp eleven, minor-major seventh sharp eleventh
  • Major 7#5#11 (symbols: Cmaj7#5#11, CM7#5#11, Cmaj7#11#5, CΔ#5#11, C+Δ7#11, Cmaj7(#5#11), CΔ7#5#11) - formula 1 3 #5 7 #11 - semitones 0 4 6 8 11 - also called: augmented major seven sharp eleven, Lydian augmented chord, major seventh sharp five sharp eleven, maj7 #5 #11
  • Major 9#11 (symbols: Cmaj9#11, CM9#11, CΔ9#11, Cmaj9(#11), Cmaj9+11, Cj9#11) - formula 1 3 5 7 9 #11 - semitones 0 2 4 6 7 11 - also called: major nine sharp eleven, Lydian major ninth, major ninth sharp eleventh, maj9 #11
  • 7sus4b9 (symbols: C7b9sus, C7susb9, C7sus(b9), Cb9sus4, C7sus4(b9)) - formula 1 4 5 b7 b9 - semitones 0 1 5 7 10 - also called: seven sus four flat nine, dominant sus flat nine, Phrygian dominant sus chord, sus b9 chord, 7sus4 b9
  • 13b9 (symbols: C13(b9), C7b9/13, C13-9, Cdom13b9, C7b9(13)) - formula 1 3 5 b7 b9 11 13 - semitones 0 1 4 5 7 9 10 - also called: thirteen flat nine, dominant thirteenth flat ninth, 13 b9, dominant 13 flat 9
  • 13#9 (symbols: C13(#9), C13+9, Cdom13#9, C7#9(13)) - formula 1 3 5 b7 #9 11 13 - semitones 0 3 4 5 7 9 10 - also called: thirteen sharp nine, dominant thirteenth sharp ninth, 13 #9, dominant 13 sharp 9
  • 13#11 (symbols: C13(#11), C13+11, Cdom13#11, C7#11(13)) - formula 1 3 5 b7 9 #11 13 - semitones 0 2 4 6 7 9 10 - also called: thirteen sharp eleven, Lydian dominant thirteenth, dominant thirteenth sharp eleventh, 13 #11

Quartal

  • Quartal (symbols: Cquartal) - formula 1 4 b7 - semitones 0 5 10 - also called: quartal triad, stacked fourths, fourths chord, three-note quartal, quartal chord, two stacked fourths, 4ths, fourths
  • Quartal 4 (symbols: Cquartal4) - formula 1 b3 4 b7 - semitones 0 3 5 10 - also called: four-note quartal, three stacked fourths, quartal tetrad, quartal 4
  • Quartal 5 (symbols: Cquartal5) - formula 1 b3 4 b6 b7 - semitones 0 3 5 8 10 - also called: five-note quartal, four stacked fourths, quartal pentad, quartal 5

Open Chords

  • Open Major - formula 1 3 5 - semitones 0 4 7 - also called: open-position major chord, open major chord, cowboy chord, open chord, major - note: Open-position voicings of the Major triad; same notes as Major
  • Open Minor - formula 1 b3 5 - semitones 0 3 7 - also called: open-position minor chord, open minor chord, open chord, minor - note: Open-position voicings of the Minor triad; same notes as Minor

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