Triads
Triads and smaller shapes that everything else grows from
Major triad
- Symbol
- C
- Formula
- 1 3 5
- From C
- C E G
- Where it is used
- A stable major sound; the I, IV and V chords of a major key.
Minor triad
- Symbol
- Cm
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 5
- From C
- C E♭ G
- Where it is used
- A major triad with its third lowered, giving the minor sound.
Diminished triad
- Symbol
- Cdim
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 ♭5
- From C
- C E♭ G♭
- Where it is used
- A tense triad built on the leading tone (vii°) and on ii° in minor keys.
Augmented triad
- Symbol
- Caug
- Formula
- 1 3 ♯5
- From C
- C E G♯
- Where it is used
- A symmetrical triad of two major thirds, with a raised fifth.
Suspended second
- Symbol
- Csus2
- Formula
- 1 2 5
- From C
- C D G
- Where it is used
- The third is replaced by the second, giving an open, unresolved sound.
Suspended fourth
- Symbol
- Csus4
- Formula
- 1 4 5
- From C
- C F G
- Where it is used
- The third is replaced by the fourth, which often resolves down to the third.
Power chord
- Symbol
- C5
- Formula
- 1 5
- From C
- C G
- Where it is used
- Root and fifth, often doubled at the octave; neither major nor minor.
Other chapters: Sixths and Added Notes · Seventh Chords · Extended and Altered Chords · Major and Minor Scales · The Modes · Pentatonic and Blues · Symmetrical Scales · Jazz Scales · Color Scales
Chord symbols and voicings vary by style. No chord–scale pairing is right in every context.
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