How to read a chord symbol
A chord symbol has up to four parts: the root (a letter, with ♯ or ♭ if needed), the quality (nothing for major, m for minor, dim, aug), the extension (7, maj7, 9…) and sometimes a slash bass note. So F♯m7/C♯ is F♯ minor 7 with C♯ in the bass.
The symbol cheat sheet
Every chord this site knows, on C, with the other ways it is written (you will see them all in real books) and the notes.
| Name | Written | Formula | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| major | C(none) | 1 3 5 | C E G |
| minor | Cm Cmin C− | 1 ♭3 5 | C E♭ G |
| diminished | C° Cdim | 1 ♭3 ♭5 | C E♭ G♭ |
| augmented | C+ Caug | 1 3 ♯5 | C E G♯ |
| power chord | C5 | 1 5 | C G |
| suspended 2nd | Csus2 | 1 2 5 | C D G |
| suspended 4th | Csus4 Csus | 1 4 5 | C F G |
| major 6th | C6 Cmaj6 CM6 | 1 3 5 6 | C E G A |
| minor 6th | Cm6 Cmin6 C−6 | 1 ♭3 5 6 | C E♭ G A |
| add 9 | Cadd9 Cadd2 | 1 3 5 9 | C E G D |
| dominant 7th | C7 Cdom7 | 1 3 5 ♭7 | C E G B♭ |
| major 7th | Cmaj7 CM7 CΔ7 C△7 | 1 3 5 7 | C E G B |
| minor 7th | Cm7 Cmin7 C−7 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 | C E♭ G B♭ |
| half-diminished | Cø7 Cm7♭5 Cmin7♭5 Cm7b5 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7 | C E♭ G♭ B♭ |
| diminished 7th | C°7 Cdim7 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7 | C E♭ G♭ B𝄫 |
| minor-major 7th | Cm(maj7) CmM7 Cm△7 C−△7 | 1 ♭3 5 7 | C E♭ G B |
| augmented 7th | C7♯5 C+7 Caug7 C7#5 | 1 3 ♯5 ♭7 | C E G♯ B♭ |
| dominant 7 sus 4 | C7sus4 C7sus | 1 4 5 ♭7 | C F G B♭ |
| dominant 9th | C9 | 1 3 5 ♭7 9 | C E G B♭ D |
| major 9th | Cmaj9 CM9 CΔ9 | 1 3 5 7 9 | C E G B D |
| minor 9th | Cm9 Cmin9 C−9 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 9 | C E♭ G B♭ D |
Slash chords
A slash chord names the chord, then the lowest note: C/E is a C chord with E in the bass. When the bass note is part of the chord it is an inversion: C/E is first inversion, C/G second. When it is not (C/D, G/F), the bass adds colour of its own. Slash chords are how a bass line walks smoothly under a progression: C – G/B – Am – C/G – F.
Power chords
A power chord is the root and the fifth only, written 5 (A5, E5). It has no third, so it is neither major nor minor, and it stays clear under heavy distortion. Rock and metal guitarists use them constantly, often doubled with the root an octave up.
add, sus and 6: what changes
- sus2, sus4 replace the third: Csus4 = C F G.
- add9 keeps the third and adds the 9th, no seventh: Cadd9 = C E G D.
- 6 adds the 6th: C6 = C E G A. m6 uses a minor third.
- 7, maj7, m7 add a seventh. A 9 alone includes the seventh.
Reading a lead sheet
A lead sheet gives the melody and the chord symbols above it. Each symbol applies until the next one. A bar with two symbols splits the bar between them; N.C. means "no chord": stop playing the harmony. Slashes in the chord line (/) just mean "keep playing the chord". If you can read the symbol, you can play the chord on any instrument.
How to practise
- Warm-up: read major, minor, 7th and power chords, and write the symbol for given notes.
- Working set: every root, slash chords and alternate spellings.
- Heavy lift: the full list of extended and altered symbols.
Look up any chord in the chord finder, find shapes in the guitar or ukulele libraries, and learn how chords are built in the chord types guide and the Chord Symbols program.
Frequently asked questions
What do chord symbols mean?
A chord symbol is a short code for a chord: a letter for the root, then a suffix that says which notes to add or change. C is a plain major chord, Cm is minor, C7 adds a flat seventh, Cmaj7 adds a major seventh.
What does a slash chord like C/E mean?
It is a C chord with E in the bass. The letter before the slash names the chord; the letter after names the lowest note. C/E is C major in first inversion (E G C).
What is a power chord?
A chord of just the root and the fifth, written with a 5 (A5, E5). With no third it is neither major nor minor, which is why it sounds strong and neutral, and why it works so well with distortion.
What is the difference between Cmaj7, CM7 and CΔ7?
Nothing: they are three ways of writing the same chord (C E G B). Different publishers use different conventions, so learn them all.
What does the ø symbol mean?
Half-diminished: a diminished triad with a minor seventh (Bø7 is B D F A, also written Bm7♭5). A small circle ° means diminished, and a circle with a 7 (°7) means fully diminished.
What is the difference between add9 and 9?
Cadd9 is C E G plus D, with no seventh. C9 is a seventh chord plus the 9th (C E G B♭ D). If you see a 9 on its own, play the seventh too.
What is the difference between sus and add?
A sus chord replaces the third (Csus4 is C F G). An add chord keeps the third and adds a note (Cadd9 is C E G D).
Why is a plain "sus" a sus4?
By convention. If a chart says just "sus", play sus4. A suspended 2nd is always written sus2.