Marco Mendez - Tips and Techniques

Chord Formulas

Definition:  How to create the proper notes for the Major, Minor, Augmented and Diminished chords.

There is a specific formula for finding the proper notes for these variations.

To begin, we will do the C Major chord.  The formula is 4 + 3 chromatic.  That is, place your thumb on the C key, and go up 4 chromatic notes, then an additional 3.

With the thumb on the C note, advance 4 by going upwards: C#, D, D# and the 4th is an E.  So now we have the thumb on C and the forefinger on the E.  To get the 3rd note, advanced upwards again: F, F# and then G.  Placing your pinkie on the G note, you have the C Major chord
C - E - G

For minor chords, the formula is 3 + 4 chromatic.  The first note is C, the second note advances 3 to the Eb, and then 4 more to the G.  So the C Minor chord (triad) is
C - Eb- G

For the C Augmented chord, the formula is 4 + 4.  The first note is C, advance 4 chromatic notes to get the E and again 4 chromatic notes to get the G#
In other words, the C augmented chord is created by taking the notes of a C major chord (C, E, G) and raising the fifth (G) by a half-step to G♯.
C - E - G#

To play the C Diminished chord, the formaula is 3 + 3.  The first note would be C, then advance 3 notes to the D# (Eb), then 3 notes to the F# (Gb).  So the C Aug chord is
C - Eb and Gb

Chromatic means count every note in order, without counting the first note, in this case the C note. 

The chromatic scale is C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, and B

Using this formula, you can figure out the various chords for each note in the scale.

Hope this helps!

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