The Complete Idiot''s Guide to Music Theory

Major Chord Notation
Example
Major
C Major
Maj
C Maj
Ma
C Ma
M
CM
∆
C
∆
In addition, just printing the letter of the chord (using a capital letter) indicates
that the chord is major. (So if you see C in a score, you know to play a C Major
chord.)

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Part 3:
Tunes
Minor Chords
The main difference between a major chord and a minor chord is the third.
Although a major chord utilizes a major third, a minor chord flattens that inter-
val to create a minor third. The fifth is the same.
In other words, a minor chord consists of a root, a minor third, and a perfect
fifth. This is sometimes notated 1-
3-5. For example, the C minor chord
includes the notes C, E
, and G.
Here’s a quick look at how to build minor chords on every note of the scale:
114
Minor triads.
In this and other chord
charts in this book, the
accidentals apply only to
the specific chord; they
don’t carry across to suc-
cessive chords.
Note
When you play a
chord based on
the tonic note of a
major scale or key,
that chord is always a
major chord. For example,
in the key of C, the tonic
chord is C Major.
Tip
There are many different ways to indicate a minor chord, as shown in the fol-
lowing table:
Notation for Minor Chords
Minor Chord Notation
Example
minor
C minor
min
C min
mi
C mi
m
Cm
Diminished Chords
A diminished chord is like a minor chord with a lowered fifth. It has a kind of
eerie and ominous sound. You build a diminished chord with a root note, a minor
third, and a diminished (lowered) fifth. This is sometimes noted 1-
3-
5.
For example, the C diminished chord includes the notes C, E
, and G
.
Here’s a quick look at how to build diminished chords on every note of the
scale:
Note the double flat on
the fifth of the E
dimin-
ished chord.
Note
Diminished triads.

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Chapter 9:
Chords
115
There are many different ways to indicate a diminished chord, as shown in the
following table:
Notation for Diminished Chords