Chord Types

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Western Harmony and American Music recognize two basic types of chords. Three-note [or -note-class] chords are called triads [tri - three / ad - note]. Four-note [or -note-class] chords are called seventh chords.
Generally, chords are built from the odd-numbered degrees of a seven-note scale, or by moving up in skips or thirds from any scale-degree, as in a harmonized scale. The quality of a chord is determined by its comparison to a paralell major scale.

chord degree area	scale degree	key of C	specific (spoken)	symbol(s)
seventh	(maj) 7	B	major seventh	maj7 7 mj7
	b7	Bb	seventh	7
	o7	Bbb	diminished seventh	dim7 o7
[note:chords have either 7ths or 6ths]
sixth	6	A	sixth	6
fifth	#5	G#	augmented [sharp five]	+ aug #5 +5
	5	G	no designation	5 [power chords]
	b5	Gb	flat five	b5 b5
fourth	4	F	suspended fourth [sus 4]	sus 4 sus
[note:chords have either 3rds or 4ths]
third	3	E	major	maj [designation not necessary]
	b3	Eb	minor	min - m
root	1	C	root always begins chord name	chord name tone [letter name plus any accidental]
chord degree area	scale degree	key of C	specific (spoken)	symbol(s)

In this harmonic system, each of the six basic triads can be used as a root triad in the construction of two seventh chords. In triads, the function of the chord is largely determined by the third. In seventh chords, the influence of the third and seventh (the guide tones) have the most profound effect on the chord's function.

TRIAD	Major		Minor
FORMULA	1 - 3 - 5 of major scale		b3
SYMBOL IN C	C		Cm C- Cmin
NOTATION IN C
NOTATION IN C
SYMBOL IN C	Cmaj7 C7 Cmj7	C7	Cmimmaj7 Cm7 C-mj7	Cmin7 Cm7 C-7
FORMULA	1 - 3 - 5 - 7 of major scale	b7	b3	b3; b7
SEVENTH	Major Seventh	Seventh	Minor (major-seventh)	Minor Seventh
TRIAD	Diminished		Augmented
FORMULA	b3; b5		#5
SYMBOL IN C	Cdim Co		Caug C+ C#5
NOTATION IN C
NOTATION IN C
SYMBOL IN C	Cm7b5 C-7b5 CØ [for half-diminished]	Cdim7 Co7	Caugmaj7 C7#5 C+mj7	Caug7 C7#5 C+7
FORMULA	b3; b5; b7	b3; b5; bb7	#5	#5; b7
SEVENTH	Minor Seven (flat-five)	Diminished Seventh	Augmented (major-seventh) Major Seventh (sharp-five)	Augmented Seventh Seventh (sharp-five)
TRIAD	Flat Five		Suspended Fourth
FORMULA	b5		scale-degree 4 replaces scale-degree3 [4/3]
SYMBOL IN C	Cb5 C(b5)		Csus4 Csus
NOTATION IN C
NOTATION IN C
SYMBOL IN C	Cmaj7b5 C7b5	C7b5	Cmaj7sus4 C7sus4	C7sus4 C7(sus)
FORMULA	b5	b5; b7	4/3	4/3; b7
SEVENTH	Major Seventh (flat-five)	Seventh (flat-five)	Major Seventh (suspended-fourth)	Seventh (suspended-fourth)

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