Lessons 10 Theoretical Chord Names

Supplement 3: Theoretical Guitar Chord Representations

Examples are in Key of Ionian C-Major. 

Prime = octave of indicated tone (e.g., 2’ = 9th, 4’ = 11th, 6’ = 13th). 

Let:

minus sign -   = symbol 𝄬  =  “flat” =  lower ½-step, for any tone (e.g., -7 = 𝄬 7)

positive sign +   =  symbol #  =  “sharp”  =  raise ½-step, for any tone (e.g., +5 = #5)

P = perfect, meaning note corresponds to its natural position in a Tonic Major Scale.

Major = maj = perfect 3rd = P3 

Minor = min = m =  -3 = 𝄬3 = flatted P3

sus = suspended = #P3, or sus4 = 3rd is replaced by the 4th    

sus2  =  3rd replaced by 2nd

add = include indicated extra tone [e.g., C(add#9) = C major with sharped 9th added]

aug = augmented = +5 = #P5 = sharped 5th     

dim = minor diminished = m-5 = minor with 𝄬P5 = minor with flatted 5th

dim5 = major diminished = -5 = major with flatted 5th

dim7 = m7-5 = minor diminished with dom7

dim-7 = m-5-7 = m-7-5 = 𝄬P5 𝄬7 = minor diminished with flatted dom7 = m6-5     

Below, any tone shown at far right can be replaced by its higher or lower octave, and the root (1) need not always be the lowest note in the chord. Also, for the larger chords, the 3rd or 5th can be omitted or replaced. And for the 13th chord, the 11th is omitted, as well. But no chords are larger than the 13th chords.

Guitar Chords:

Name                               Symbols                                      Tones

Major                               C, C Major, Cmaj                       1, P3, P5 = 1, 3, 5, 8.

Major (Add Flat 2nd)         C(add-2), C(add-9), C(add𝄬9)      1, 𝄬2’, P3, P5  =  1, 3, 5, 𝄬9.

Major 2nd                        C2, Cadd2, Cadd9                      1, 2’, P3, P5 = 1, 3, 5, 9.

Major (Add Sharp 2nd)      C(add+2), C(add+9), C(add#9)    1, #2’, P3, P5  =  1, 3, 5, #9.

Major 3rd [Power Chord]    C3                                             1, P3  or  1, 3, 1’  =  1, 3, 8.

Major 4th                         C4, Cadd4, C(add11)                  1, P3, 4’, P5  =  1, 3, 5, 11.

Major Add Sharp 4th         C(add+4), C(add#4), C(add#11)  1, P3, #4’, P5 = 1, 3, 5, #11.

Major 4th Add Flat 6th       C4(add-6), C(add𝄬6)             1, P3, 4’, P5, 𝄬6 = 1, 3, 5, 𝄬6, 11.

Major 4th Add 6th             C4add6                                1, P3, 4’, P5, 6  =  1, 3, 5, 6, 11.

Major 4th Add Sharp 6th    C4(add+6), C4(add#6)       1, P3, 4’, "5, #6  =  1, 3, 5, #6, 11.

Major 4th Add Dom7   C4(add7), C7add4            1, P3, 4’, P5, 𝄬P7  =  1, 3, 5, 7, 11.

Major 4th Add Maj7          Cmaj7(add4)  1, P3, 4’, P5, P7  =  1, 3, 5, maj7, 11.

Major 4th Add Flat 9th       C4(add-9), C4(add𝄬 9)        1, P3, 4’, P5, 𝄬9  =  1, 3, 5, 𝄬9, 11.

Major 4th Add 9th             C4add9                                 1, P3, 4’, P5, 9  =  1, 3, 5, 9, 11.

Major 4th Add Sharp 9th    C4(add+9), C4(add#9)       1, P3, 4’, P5, #9  =  1, 3, 5, #9, 11.

Major Diminished Cdim5, C-5 1, P3, 𝄬P5 = 1, 3, -5.

Major 5th [Power Chord]     C5                                                1, 5  or  1, 5, 1’  =  1, 5, 8.

Major 6th                           C6, Cadd6                                  1, P3, P5, 6' = 1, 3, 5, 13.

Major 6th Add Dom7     C6(add7), C7add6                   1, P3, 5, P6, 7 = 1, 3, 5, 6, 7.

Major 6th Add Maj7     Cmaj7(add6)  1, P3, P5, 6, P7 = 1, 3, 5, 6, maj7.

Major 6th Add Flat 9th        C6(add-9), C6(add𝄬 9)         1, P3, P5, 6, 𝄬9 = 1, 3, 5, 6, 𝄬9.

Major 6th Add 9th              C6(add9), C69                        1, P3, P5, 6, 9 = 1, 3, 5, 6, 9.

Major 6th Add Sharp 9th     C6(add+9), C6(add#9)      1, P3, P5, 6, #9 = 1, 3, 5, 6, 9.

Major 7th                           Cmaj7                                  1, P3, P5, P7 = 1, 3, 5, maj7.

Major 7th Add Sharp 4th     Cmaj7(add#4)          1, P3, #4’, P5, P7  =  1, 3, 5, maj7, #11.

Major 7th Add Flat 6th        Cmaj7(add𝄬6)            1, P3, P5, 𝄬6, P7 = 1, 3, 5, 𝄬6, maj7.

Major 7th Add 6th              Cmaj7(add6)                    1, P3, P5, 6, P7 = 1, 3, 5, 6, maj7.

Major 7th Add Sharp 6th     Cmaj7(add#6)            1, P3, P5, #6, P7 = 1, 3, 5, #6, maj7.

Major 7th Add Flat 9th         Cmaj7(add𝄬9)            1, P3, P5, P7, 𝄬9 = 1, 3, 5, maj7, 𝄬9.

Major 7th Add Sharp 9th     Cmaj7(add#9)             1, P3, P5, P7, #9 = 1, 3, 5, maj7, #9.

Major 9th                           Cmaj9                            1, P3, P5, P7, 9 = 1, 3, 5, maj7, 9.

Major 11th                         Cmaj11               1, P3, P5, P7, 9, 11 = 1, 3, 5, maj7, 9, 11.

Major 13th                         Cmaj13   1, P3, P5, P7, 9, 11, 13 = 1, 3, 5, maj7, 9, 11, 13.

Major Add 9th                    Cadd9                                       1, P3, P5, 9 = 1, 3, 5, 9.

Major Add 11th                  Cadd11                                      1, P3, P5, 11 = 1, 3, 5, 11.

Major Add 13th                  Cadd13                                      1, P3, P5, 13 = 1, 3, 5, 13.

Suspended Flat 2nd             Csus-2                                           1, 𝄬2’, P5  =  1, 5, 𝄬9.

Suspended 2nd                   Csus2                                                  1, 2’, P5  =  1, 5, 9.

Suspended Sharp 2nd   Csus+2, Csus#2, Csus#9                  1, #2’, P5  =  1, 5, #9.

Suspended 4th                    Csus, Csus4                                       1, #3, P5  =  1, 4, 5.

Sus. 2nd Sus. 4th                Csus2sus4                                      1, 2’, 4’, P5  =  1, 5, 9, 11.

Suspended (Add Flat 6th)     Csus(add-6), Csus(add𝄬6)         1, 4, P5’, 𝄬6  =  1, 4, 𝄬6, 8, 12.

Suspended 6th                    C6(sus4), Csus(add6)                1, 4, P5’, 6  =  1, 4, 6, 8, 12.

Suspended (Add Sharp 6th)  Csus(add+6), Csus(add#6)    1, 4, P5’, #6  =  1, 4, #6, 11, 12.

Suspended 7th                    C7sus, C7(sus4)                        1, #P3, P5, 𝄬P7  =  1, 4, 5, 7.

Suspended Major 7th           Cmaj7(sus4), Csus(maj7)         1, 4’, P5, P7  =  1, 5, maj7, 11. Suspended 9th                     C9sus, C9(sus4)              1, #P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9  =  1, 4, 5, 7, 9.

Suspended Major 9th           Cmaj9sus, Cmaj9(sus4)   1, #P3, P5, P7, 9 = 1, 4, 5, maj7, 9.

Suspended 11th                  C11sus, C11(sus4)    1, P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9, 11 = 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11.

Suspended Major 11th         Cmaj11sus4 1, #P3, P5, P7, 9, 11 = 1, 4, 5, maj7, 9, 11.

Suspended 13th                   C13sus4   1, #P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9, 11, 13 = 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.

Suspended Major 13th        Cmaj13sus4 1, #P3, P5, P7, 9, 11, 13 = 1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.

Dominant 7th                       C7                                     1, P3, P5, 𝄬P7 = 1, 3, 5, 7.

Dominant 9th                       C9                                     1, P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9 = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9.

Dominant 11th                     C11                       1, P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9, 11 = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11.

Dominant 13th                     C13           1, P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9, 11, 13 = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.

Minor                                  Cm                                                 1, 𝄬P3, P5 = 1, m3, 5.

Minor 4th                             Cm4                                      1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5  =  1, m3, 5, 11.

Minor 4th Add Flat 6th          Cm4(add𝄬6) 1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5, 𝄬6  =  1, m3, 5, 𝄬6 11.

Minor 4th Add 6th                Cm4(add6)                    1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5, 6  =  1, m3, 5, 6, 11.

Minor 4th Add Sharp 6th       Cm4(add#6)              1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5, #6  =  1, m3, 5, #6, 11.

Minor 4th Add Dom7     Cm7(add4)                   1, 𝄬P3, 4’, 5, 𝄬P7  =  1, m3, 5, 7, 11.

Minor 4th Add Major 7th       Cm4(maj7)     1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5, P7  =  1, m3, 5, maj7, 11.

Minor 4th Add Flat 9th           Cm4(add𝄬9)            1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5, 𝄬9  =  1, m3, 5, 𝄬9, 11.

Minor 4th Add 9th                 Cm4(add9)                   1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5, 9  =  1, m3, 5, 9, 11.

Minor 4th Add Sharp 9th        Cm4(add#9)             1, 𝄬P3, 4’, P5, #9  =  1, m3, 5, #9, 11.

Minor 6th                              Cm6                                     1, 𝄬P3, P5, 6 = 1, m3, 5, 6.

Minor 6th Add Dom7     Cm7(add6)                    1, 𝄬P3, P5, 6, 𝄬P7 = 1, m3, 5, 6, 7.

Minor 6th Add Major 7th        Cm6(maj7)                1, 𝄬P3, P5, 6, P7 = 1, m3, 5, 6, maj7.

Minor 6th Add Flat 9th           Cm(add𝄬9)                   1, 𝄬P3, P5, 6, 𝄬9 = 1, m3, 5, 6, 𝄬9.

Minor 6th Add 9th                 Cm6(add9), Cm69          1, 𝄬P3, P5, 6, 9 = 1, m3, 5, 6, 9.

Minor 6th Add Sharp 9th        Cm6(add#9)                 1, 𝄬P3, P5, 6, #9 = 1, m3, 5, 6, #9.

Minor 7th                              Cm7                                     1, 𝄬P3, P5, 𝄬P7 = 1, m3, 5, 7.

Minor Add Major 7th             Cm(maj7)                           1, 𝄬P3, P5, P7 = 1, m3, 5, maj7.

Minor 9th                              Cm9                             1, 𝄬P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9 = 1, m3, 5, 7, 9.

Minor 11th                            Cm11               1, 𝄬P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9, 11 = 1, m3, 5, 7, 9, 11.

Minor 13th                            Cm13   1, 𝄬P3, P5, 𝄬P7, 9, 11, 13 = 1, m3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13.

Diminished                            Cdim, Cm-5            1, 𝄬P3, 𝄬P5 = 1, m3, -5.

Diminished 7th                       Cdim-7, Cm6-5                1, 𝄬P3, 𝄬P5, 𝄬𝄬P7  =  1, m3, -5, 6.

Half-Diminished 7th                C7dim, Cm7-5                     1, 𝄬P3, 𝄬P5, 𝄬P7 = 1, m3, -5, 7.

Diminished Major                   C-5                                       1, P3, 𝄬P5 = 1, 3, -5.

Dim. Major Add Maj7        Cmaj7-5                              1, P3, 𝄬P5, P7 = 1, 3, -5, maj7.

Augmented                            C+, C+5, Caug, Caug5                 1, P3, #P5 = 1, 3, +5.

Augmented Minor                   Cm+5, Cm(aug5)                      1, 𝄬P3, #P5 = 1, m3, +5.

Augmented 7th                       C7+, C7+5, C7aug  1, P3, #P5, 𝄬P7 = 1, 3, +5, 7.

Augmented Major 7th              Cmaj7+, Cmaj7+5       1, P3, #P5, P7 = 1, 3, +5, maj7.

Augmented Minor 7th              Cm7+5 , Cm7(aug5)         1, 𝄬P3, #P5, 𝄬P7 = 1, m3, +5, 7.