Chord Cheat Sheet
Instruction Manual
This cheat sheet provides a way to calculate the notes of various chords using semitone
intervals based on a root note. To find the notes of a chord:
1. Identify the Root Note: Start by choosing your root note (e.g., C, D, E, etc.).
2. Assign Semitone Numbers: Using the table below, assign semitone numbers to
the chromatic scale starting from the chosen root note.
3. Apply the Chord Formula: Use the chord formula, which represents semitone
intervals relative to the root note, to determine the notes of the chord.
Here is the chromatic scale with semitone numbers (starting from C as the root):
Note Semitone
Number
C 1
C# 2
D 3
D# 4
E 5
F 6
F# 7
G 8
G# 9
A 10
A# 11
B 12
Basic and Extended Chords
Chord Type Formula (Semitone Example (C as Root)
Intervals)
Major (Maj) 1-5-8 C-E-G
Minor (min) 1-4-8 C - D# - G
Diminished (dim) 1-4-7 C - D# - F#
Augmented (aug) 1-5-9 C - E - G#
Suspended 2nd (sus2) 1-3-8 C-D-G
Suspended 4th (sus4) 1-6-8 C-F-G
6th (6) 1 - 5 - 8 - 10 C-E-G-A
Minor 6th (min6) 1 - 4 - 8 - 10 C - D# - G - A
Add9 (add9) 1 - 5 - 8 - 15 C-E-G-D
Minor Add9 (minadd9) 1 - 4 - 8 - 15 C - D# - G - D
Add11 (add11) 1 - 5 - 8 - 18 C-E-G-F
Add13 (add13) 1 - 5 - 8 - 22 C-E-G-A
Seventh and Extended Chords
Chord Type Formula (Semitone Example (C as Root)
Intervals)
Major 7th (Maj7) 1 - 5 - 8 - 12 C-E-G-B
Minor 7th (min7) 1 - 4 - 8 - 11 C - D# - G - A#
Dominant 7th (7) 1 - 5 - 8 - 11 C - E - G - A#
Diminished 7th (dim7) 1 - 4 - 7 - 10 C - D# - F# - A
Half-Diminished 7th 1 - 4 - 7 - 11 C - D# - F# - A#
(min7♭5)
Minor Major 7th (minMaj7) 1 - 4 - 8 - 12 C - D# - G - B
9th (9) 1 - 5 - 8 - 11 - 15 C - E - G - A# - D
Minor 9th (min9) 1 - 4 - 8 - 11 - 15 C - D# - G - A# - D
Major 9th (Maj9) 1 - 5 - 8 - 12 - 15 C-E-G-B-D
11th (11) 1 - 5 - 8 - 11 - 15 - 18 C - E - G - A# - D - F
Minor 11th (min11) 1 - 4 - 8 - 11 - 15 - 18 C - D# - G - A# - D - F
Major 11th (Maj11) 1 - 5 - 8 - 12 - 15 - 18 C-E-G-B-D-F
13th (13) 1 - 5 - 8 - 11 - 15 - 18 - 22 C - E - G - A# - D - F - A
Minor 13th (min13) 1 - 4 - 8 - 11 - 15 - 18 - 22 C - D# - G - A# - D - F -
A
Major 13th (Maj13) 1 - 5 - 8 - 12 - 15 - 18 - 22 C-E-G-B-D-F-A
Summary of Chords
• Basic Triads: Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented.
• Suspended Chords: Sus2, Sus4.
• Add Chords: Add9, Minor Add9, Add11, Add13.
• Seventh Chords: Major 7th, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th, Diminished 7th, Half-
Diminished 7th, Minor Major 7th.
• Extended Chords: 9th, Minor 9th, Major 9th, 11th, Minor 11th, Major 11th, 13th,
Minor 13th, Major 13th.
