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 Guitar Chord Formulas
Guitar Powerchords
Chords are built upon formulas using intervals that
are derived from the diatonic major scale. This example
is taught in the key of C major.
It takes 3 notes to make a chord major or minor. A chord
that consist of only 3 notes is a "triad".
C diatonic major scale
C D E F G A B C
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-----------------7--9--10------------------------|
A :-------7--8--10----------------------------------|
E :-8--10-------------------------------------------|
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
C Major Chord Formula * Intervals 1,3,5 (C,E,G)
C E G C Major Triad
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :---------------------------------------5---------|
A :----7----10----------------------------7---------|
E :-8-------------------------------------8---------|
1 3 5
C Minor Chord Formula * Intervals 1,b3,5 (C,Eb,G)
C Eb G C Minor Triad
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :------------------------------------5------------|
A :----6---10--------------------------6------------|
E :-8----------------------------------8------------|
1 b3 5
The Powerchord
It takes only 2 notes to build the 5th chord, also
commonly known as the "powerchord". In thus, the 5th
chord is not major or minor and works as a substitute
for nearly any chord.
C5 (Powerchord) Formula * Intervals 1,5 (C,G)
C G
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :----10-----------------------------10------------|
E :-8---------------------------------8-------------|
The roote note is the usually the first note played
in a chord, that gives the chord it's given letter
name. For example, this note is C, as shown above.
Here is an example of the powerchords in alphabetical
order, roote note 6th string (large E). The chords
shown in parenthesis are the low octave chord of
F5 & G5 chord's.
A B C D E F G
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-7--9--10--12--14--15--(3)--17--(5)--------------|
E :-5--7--8---10--12--13--(1)--15--(3)--------------|
Sharps(#) & Flats(b)
Any note or chord played sharp or flat may have 2 names.
For example if you move up 1 fret from A, the note your
playing is now higher in pitch, and determined as A#
(A sharp) when moving ascending. If you move down 1 fret
from the note B at the 7th fret, due to the descending
motion, the note becomes flat (b) and is now determined
as Bb. This gives the note or chord at the 6th fret
(Large E string) 2 given letter names. A# and Bb.
There are no sharps and flats between E&F, B&C.
As Notes
A A# B Bb A#/Bb
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-------------------------------------------------|
E :-5---6-----------7----6---------------6----------|
As Powerchords
A A# B Bb A#/Bb
e :-------------------------------------------------|
B :-------------------------------------------------|
G :-------------------------------------------------|
D :-------------------------------------------------|
A :-7---8----------9---8-----------------8----------|
E :-5---6----------7---6-----------------6----------|
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