Major Piano Chords

How do you form a major chord on piano? A major chord is perhaps the simplest chord.
It consists of three notes, the root, 3rd and 5th. Its symbol is Maj. For instance C major
can be written C Maj.
Lets take a look at all 12 major chords and the notes which form them.

C major C E G

C sharp major C E G

D major D F A

E flat major E G B

E major E G B

F major F A C

F sharp major F A C

G major G B D

A flat major A C E

A major A C E

Bb major B D F

B major B D F

Minor Piano Chords

A minor chord is formed by playing the root, flat 3rd and 5th of the scale. Its symbol is
mi, -, or m. For instance, A minor can be written as Ami, A-, or Am. Am seems to be
more common.
Lets take a look at all 12 minor chords and the notes which form them.

C minor C E G

C sharp minor C E G

D minor D F A

E flat minor E G B

E minor E G B

F minor F A C

F sharp minor F A C

G minor G B D

A flat minor A C(B) E

A minor A C E

B flat minor B D F

B minor B D F

Major and minor chords are called triads. They are three note chords consisting of the
root, the third and the fifth of the scale. In the case of a minor triad, a flat third is
played.

Diminished Piano Chords

Diminished chords are triads as well, and consist of three notes, the root, flat third, and
flat fifth of the scale. (root, 3rd, 5th) A diminished chord is represented by the symbols
dim or . For instance B diminished can be written as Bdim or B.
Lets take a look at 12 diminished triad chords and the notes which form them.

C diminished C E G

C diminished C E G

D diminished D F A

E diminished E G B(A)

E diminished E G B

F diminished F A C(B)

F diminished F A C

G diminished G B D

A diminished A C E(D)

A diminished A C E

B diminished B D F(E)

B diminished B D F

In most sheet music books, C dim or C denotes a diminished 7th chord. This chord
consists of four notes, the root, flat third, flat fifth and double flat seventh of the scale.
(root, 3rd, 5th, 7th) For instance, the notes of a Cdim7 or C7 chord are C E G A.
Here are all 12 diminished seventh chords.

C diminished seventh C E G B(A)

C diminished seventh C E G B

D diminished seventh D F A C(B)

E diminished seventh E G B(A) D C

E diminished seventh E G B D

F diminished seventh F A C(B) E(D)

F diminished seventh F A C E

G diminished seventh G B D F(E)

A diminished seventh A C E(D) G(F)

A diminished seventh A C E G

B diminished seventh B D F(E) A(G)

B diminished seventh B D F A

Augmented Piano Chords

An augmented chord is also a triad. It is a three note chord consisting of the root, third
and sharp fifth of the scale. (root, 3rd, 5th) The symbol for an augmented chord is + or
aug. For instance C augmented can be written as C+ or Caug.

C augmented C E G

C augmented C E(F) G(A)

D augmented D F A

E augmented E G B

E augmented E G B(C)

F augmented F A C

F augmented F A C(D)

G augmented G B D

A augmented A C E

A augmented A C E(F)

B augmented B D F

B augmented B D F(G)

Dominant Seventh Piano Chords

Next in our piano chords lesson, lets learn about the dominant seventh chord. This
chord type consists of four notes. These notes are the root, 3rd, 5th and 7th of the
scale. Its symbol is dom. 7 or 7. So C dominant seventh would be written as C dom.7 or
C7.

Here are the 12 dominant 7th chords and the notes which form them.

C dominant seventh C E G B

C dominant seventh C E(F) G B

D dominant seventh D F A C

E dominant seventh E G B D

E dominant seventh E G B D

F dominant seventh F A C E

F dominant seventh F A C E

G dominant seventh G B D F

A dominant seventh A C E G

A dominant seventh A C E G

B dominant seventh B D F A

B dominant seventh B D F A

Minor Seventh Piano Chords

A minor seventh chord is really a minor chord with an added 7th note. It consists of
four notes, the root, 3rd, 5th and 7th of the scale. Its symbols are -7 or min7. So D
minor seventh would be written as D-7 or Dmin7.
Here are all twelve minor seventh chords and the notes which form them.

C minor seventh C E G B

C minor seventh C E G B

D minor seventh D F A C

E minor seventh E G B D

E minor seventh E G B D

F minor seventh F A C E

F minor seventh F A C E

G minor seventh G B D F

A minor seventh A C(B) E G

A minor seventh A C E G

B minor seventh B D F A

B minor seventh B D F A

Major Seventh Piano Chords

A major seventh chord consists of four notes. It is really a major chord with an added
7th note. The scale degrees used to form a major seventh chord is the root, 3rd, 5th and
maj. 7th of the scale. The symbols used for this type of chord are M7 or maj 7. For
instance G major seventh could be written GM7 of Gma7.
Here are all 12 major seventh chords and their notes.

C major seventh C E G B

C major seventh C E(F) G B(C)

D major seventh D F A C

E major seventh E G B D

E major seventh E G B D

F major seventh F A C E

F major seventh F A C E(F)

G major seventh G B D F

A major seventh A C E G

A major seventh A C E G

B major seventh B D F A

B major seventh B D F A

The piano chords presented above are some of the more common ones. We shall take
things a little further and look at major sixth, minor sixth, seventh 5th, seventh 5th,
major 7th 3rd, minor 7th 5th and seventh suspended 4th piano chords.

Major Sixth Chords

A major sixth chord has four notes, the root, 3rd, 5th and 6th of the scale. Its symbol is
M6 or 6. For instance C major sixth is written CM6 or C6.
Here are all 12 major sixth chords.

C major sixth C E G A

C major sixth C E G A

D major sixth D F A B

E major sixth E G B C

E major sixth E G B C

F major sixth F A C D

F major sixth F A C D

G major sixth G B D E

A major sixth A C E F

A major sixth A C E F

B major sixth B D F G

B major sixth B D F G

Minor Sixth Chords

To form a minor sixth chord, use the root, 3rd, 5th and 6th degrees of the scale. A
minor 6th chord is represented by the symbol mi 6 or -6. For instance D minor sixth is
written Dmi 6 or D -6. Lets take a look at all 12 minor 6th chords and the notes which
form them.

C minor sixth C E G A

C minor sixth C E G A

D minor sixth D F A B

E minor sixth E G B C

E minor sixth E G B C

F minor sixth F A C D

F minor sixth F A C D

G minor sixth G B D E

A minor sixth A C E F

A minor sixth A C E F

B minor sixth B D F G

B minor sixth B D F G

Seventh Sharp Fifth Piano Chords(7th 5th chords,

Augmented 7th chords)
These chords are represented by the symbols 7+5 or 75. For instance a C 7th sharp
fifth would be written C7+5 or C75. To form a seventh 5th chord, use the root, 3rd,
5th and 7th of the major scale. Here are the 12 seventh sharp five chords.

C seventh sharp five C E G B

C seventh sharp five C E(F) G##(A) B

D seventh sharp five D F A C

E seventh sharp five E G B D

E seventh sharp five E G B#(C) D

F seventh sharp five F A C E

F seventh sharp five F A C##(D) E

G seventh sharp five G B D F

A seventh sharp five A C E G

A seventh sharp five A C E#(F) G

B seventh sharp five B D F A

B seventh sharp five B D F##(G) A

Seventh Flat Fifth Chords(7th 5th chords, Dominant

Seventh Flat Five Chord)
We now move on to seventh flat fifth chords. To form a 7th 5th chord, you use the root,
3rd, 5th and 7th degrees of the major scale. These chords are represented by the
symbols 7-5 or 75. For instance G seventh flat fifth is written G7-5 or G75. Here are
the 12 seventh flat fifth chords.

C seventh flat five C E G B

C seventh flat five C E(F) G B

D seventh flat five D F A C

E seventh flat five E G B(A) D

E seventh flat five E G B D

F seventh flat five F A C(B) E

F seventh flat five F A C E

G seventh flat five G B D F

A seventh flat five A C E(D) G

A seventh flat five A C E G

B seventh flat five B D F(E) A

B seventh flat five B D F A

Major 7th Flat Third Piano Chords Minor Major

Seventh Chords
It is also called a minor major seventh chord. This type of chord is formed by combining
four notes, the root, 3rd, 5th and maj. 7th of the major scale. The symbols used for a
major 7th flat third chord is Ma 7-3. For example C major 7th flat 3rd is written CMa 7-3.
Since this chord is also called a minor major seventh chord it is also written as mM7,
m7, -7, mM7, m/M7, m(M7), minmaj7, etc. Here are the 12 major 7th flat 3rd chords
(minor major seventh chords).

C major seventh flat third C E G B

C major seventh flat third C E G B(C)

D major seventh flat third D F A C

E major seventh flat third E G B D

E major seventh flat third E G B D

F major seventh flat third F A C E

F major seventh flat third F A C E(F)

G major seventh flat third G B D F

A major seventh flat third A C(B) E G

A major seventh flat third A C E G

B major seventh flat third B D F A

B major seventh flat third B D F A

Minor Seventh Flat Fifth Piano Chords

This chord is formed by combining the root, 3rd, 5th and 7th of the major scale. It is
written with the symbols mi 7-5, -75 or m7(5). For example C minor seventh flat five is
written C mi 7-5, C -75 or C m7(5).
Here are the twelve minor 7th flat 5th chords.

C minor seventh flat five C E G B

C minor seventh flat five C E G B

D minor seventh flat five D F A C

E minor seventh flat five E G B(A) D

E minor seventh flat five E G B D

F minor seventh flat five F A C(B) E

F minor seventh flat five F A C E

G minor seventh flat five G B D F

A minor seventh flat five A C E(D) G

A minor seventh flat five A C E G

B minor seventh flat five B D F(E) A

B minor seventh flat five B D F A

Dominant Seventh Suspended Fourth Piano Chords

A 7th suspended 4th chord is formed by combining four notes, the root, 4th, 5th and
7th of the major scale. It is written as 7 sus 4. For instance an F 7th suspended 4th
chord is written F7sus4. Lets learn how to build all twelve 7th suspended 4th chords.

C seventh suspended fourth C F G B

C seventh suspended fourth C F G B

D seventh suspended fourth D G A C

E seventh suspended fourth E A B D

E seventh suspended fourth E A B D

F seventh suspended fourth F B C E

F seventh suspended fourth F B C E

G seventh suspended fourth G C D F

A seventh suspended fourth A D E G

A seventh suspended fourth A D E G

B seventh suspended fourth B E F A

B seventh suspended fourth B E F A

How to Build Advanced Piano Chords

To arrive at scale degrees above 1 octave (i.e. 9th, 11th, and 13th) continue your scale
up 2 octaves and keep numbering. The 2nd scale degree will be the 9th tone as you
start your second octave.

We shall now learn how to form different kinds of ninth chords. Learn how to form ninth,
minor ninth, major ninth, ninth augmented 5th, ninth flatted 5th, seventh 9,
augmented 9th and 9/6 piano chords.
Lets start with ninth chords.

Ninth Piano Chords

A ninth chord is formed by combining the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th of the major scale.
The symbol used is the number 9. For instance the chord C ninth is written C9. Lets
learn how to build ninth chords in all 12 keys.

C ninth C E G B D

C ninth C E(F) G B D

D ninth D F A C E

E ninth E G B D F

E ninth E G B D F

F ninth F A C E G

F ninth F A C E G

G ninth G B D F A

A ninth A C E G B

A ninth A C E G B

B ninth B D F A C

B ninth B D F A C

Minor Ninth Piano Chords

A minor ninth chord is formed by combining the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th of the
major scale. The symbol used is mi 9 or -9. For instance the chord C minor ninth is
written Cm9 or c-9. Lets learn how to build minor ninth chords in all 12 keys.

C minor ninth C E G B D

C minor ninth C E G B D

D minor ninth D F A C E

E minor ninth E G B D F

E minor ninth E G B D F

F minor ninth F A C E G

F minor ninth F A C E G

G minor ninth G B D F A

A minor ninth A C(B) E G B

A minor ninth A C E G B

B minor ninth B D F A C

B minor ninth B D F A C

Major Ninth Piano Chords

How is a major ninth chord formed? Its formed by combining the root, 3rd, 5th, maj. 7th
and 9th of the major scale. How is it written? Ma9. For instance an E major ninth chord is
written EMa9. Learn how to build a major ninth chord below.

C major ninth C E G B D

C major ninth C E G B# D

D major ninth D F A C E

E major ninth E G B D F

E major ninth E G B D F

F major ninth F A C E G

F major ninth F A C E G

G major ninth G B D F A

A major ninth A C E G B

A major ninth A C E G# B

B major ninth B D F A C

B major ninth B D F A C

Ninth Augmented Fifth Chord

Lets learn how to form a ninth augmented fifth chord. To form a 9th augmented 5th
chord you combine the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th of the major scale. Its symbol is
95. For example the chord C ninth augmented fifth is written C95. Lets learn how to
form 9th augmented 5th chords.

C ninth augmented fifth C E G B D

C ninth augmented fifth C E(F) G(A) B D

D ninth augmented fifth D F A C E

E ninth augmented fifth E G B D F

E ninth augmented fifth E G B(C) D F

F ninth augmented fifth F A C E G

F ninth augmented fifth F A C(D) E G

G ninth augmented fifth G B D F A

A ninth augmented fifth A C E G B

A ninth augmented fifth A C E(F) G B

B ninth augmented fifth B D F A C

B ninth augmented fifth B D F(G) A C

Ninth Flatted Fifth Chord

Lets learn how to form a ninth flatted fifth chord. To form a 9th flatted 5th chord you
combine the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th of the major scale. Its symbol is 95. For
example the chord C ninth flatted fifth is written C95 or C9-5. Lets learn how to form
9th flatted 5th chords.

C ninth flatted fifth C E G B D

C ninth flatted fifth C E(F) G B D

D ninth flatted fifth D F A C E

E ninth flatted fifth E G B(A) D F

E ninth flatted fifth E G B D F

F ninth flatted fifth F A C(B) E G

F ninth flatted fifth F A C E G

G ninth flatted fifth G B D F A

A ninth flatted fifth A C E(D) G B

A ninth flatted fifth A C E G B

B ninth flatted fifth B D F(E) A C

B ninth flatted fifth B D F A C

Seventh Flat Ninth Piano Chords

A seventh flat nine chord is formed by combining the root, third, fifth, flat seventh, and
flat ninth of the major scale. It is written 7-9 or 79. For example C seventh flat ninth is
written C7-9 or C79. Lets learn how to build seventh flat nine chords in all 12 keys.

C seventh flat ninth C E G B D

C seventh flat ninth C E(F) G B D

D seventh flat ninth D F A C E

E seventh flat ninth E G B D F

E seventh flat ninth E G B D F

F seventh flat ninth F A C E G

F seventh flat ninth F A C E G

G seventh flat ninth G B D F A

A seventh flat ninth A C E G B

A seventh flat ninth A C E G B

B seventh flat ninth B D F A C

B seventh flat ninth B D F A C

Augmented Ninth Piano Chords

Lets learn how to build an augmented ninth chord. To form an augmented 9th chord
you use the root, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th of the major scale. This chord is written as 9+
or 7+9. For instance, C augmented ninth is written C9+or C7+9. Here are all
augmented ninth chords and the notes which form them.

C seventh sharp ninth C E G B D

C seventh sharp ninth C E(F) G B D##(E)

D seventh sharp ninth D F A C E#(F)

E seventh sharp ninth E G B D F

E seventh sharp ninth E G B D F##(G)

F seventh sharp ninth F A C E G

F seventh sharp ninth F A C E A

G seventh sharp ninth G B D F A

A seventh sharp ninth A C E G B

A seventh sharp ninth A C E G B#(C)

B seventh sharp ninth B D F A C

B seventh sharp ninth B D F A C##(D)

9/6 Piano Chords (6/9 Chords)

A 9/6 chord or a six add nine chord is formed by combining 5 notes, the root, 3rd, 5th,
6th and 9th notes of the major scale. How is it written? 6add9 or 6add9. C sixth add
nine is written C6add9 or C6add9.

C6 add 9 C E G A D

C6 add 9 C E(F) G A D

D6 add 9 D F A B E

E6 add 9 E G B C F

E6 add 9 E G B C F

F6 add 9 F A C D G

F6 add 9 F A C D G

G6 add 9 G B D E A

A6 add 9 A C E F B

A6 add 9 A C E F B

B6 add 9 B D F G C

B6 add 9 B D F G C

We now take a look at eleventh and thirteenth chords. We shall learn how to build
eleventh, augmented eleventh, thirteenth, thirteenth 9, and thirteenth 95 chords.
Lastly we learn how to build a half diminished chord.

Eleventh Chords
How do you form an eleventh chord? You combine the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th and
11th of the major scale. How is an 11th chord written? The symbol is the number 11. For
example C eleventh is written C11. Here are all twelve eleventh chords.

C eleventh C E G B D F

C eleventh C E(F) G B D F

D eleventh D F A C E G

E eleventh E G B D F A

E eleventh E G B D F A

F eleventh F A C E G B

F eleventh F A C E G B

G eleventh G B D F A C

A eleventh A C E G B D

A eleventh A C E G B D

B eleventh B D F A C E

B eleventh B D F A C E

Augmented Eleventh Piano Chords

An augmented eleventh chord consists of the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, 9th and sharp 11th
of the major scale. It is written like this: 11+ or 7 aug 11. For instance C augmented
eleventh is written C11+ or C 7 aug 11. Lets learn how to form augmented 11th chords
in all keys.

C augmented eleventh C E G B D F

C augmented eleventh C E(F) G B D F##(G)

D augmented eleventh D F A C E G

E augmented eleventh E G B D F A

E augmented eleventh E G B D F A

F augmented eleventh F A C E G B

F augmented eleventh F A C E G B#(C)

G augmented eleventh G B D F A C

A augmented eleventh A C E G B D

A augmented eleventh A C E G B D

B augmented eleventh B D F A C E

B augmented eleventh B D F A C E#(F)

Thirteenth Piano Chords

How do you build a thirteenth chord? To build a thirteenth chord you use the root, 3rd,
5th, flat 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th of the major scale. The symbol for a thirteenth chord is
13. For instance a G thirteenth chord is written G13. Here are the notes which form
thirteenth chords, in all keys.

C thirteenth C E G B D F A

C thirteenth C E(F) G B D F A

D thirteenth D F A C E G B

E thirteenth E G B D F A C

E thirteenth E G B D F A C

F thirteenth F A C E G B D

F thirteenth F A C E G B D

G thirteenth G B D F A C E

A thirteenth A C E G B D F

A thirteenth A C E G B D F

B thirteenth B D F A C E G

B thirteenth B D F A C E G

Thirteenth Flat Ninth Piano Chords

Lets learn how to build a thirteenth flat ninth piano chord. To form a 13th flat nine chord
you use the root, 3rd, 5th, flat 7th, flat 9th, 11th and 13th of the major scale. This chord
is written as 139. For instance, F thirteen flat nine is written F139. Here are all
thirteenth flat ninth chords and the notes which form them.

C thirteenth flat ninth C E G B D F A

C thirteenth flat ninth C E(F) G B D F A

D thirteenth flat ninth D F A C E G B

E thirteenth flat ninth E G B D F(E) A C

E thirteenth flat ninth E G B D F A C

F thirteenth flat ninth F A C E G B D

F thirteenth flat ninth F A C E G B D

G thirteenth flat ninth G B D F A C E

A thirteenth flat ninth A C E G B(A) D F

A thirteenth flat ninth A C E G B D F

B thirteenth flat ninth B D F A C(B) E G

B thirteenth flat ninth B D F A C E G

Thirteenth Flat Ninth Flat Fifth Piano Chords

Next, in our lesson we learn how to build a thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth chord. To form a
13th flat nine flat five chord you use the root, 3rd, flat 5th, flat 7th, flat 9th, 11th and
13th of the major scale. This chord is written as 139. For instance, F thirteen flat nine
flat five is written F139 5. Here are all thirteenth flat nine flat five chords and the
notes which form them.

C thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth C E G B D F A

C thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth C E(F) G B D F A

D thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth D F A C E G B

E thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth E G B(A) D F(E) A C

E thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth E G B D F A C

F thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth F A C(B) E G B D

F thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth F A C E G B D

G thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth G B D F A C E

A thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth A C E(D) G B(A) D F

A thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth A C E G B D F

B thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth B D F(E) A C(B) E G

B thirteenth flat ninth flat fifth B D F A C E G

Half Diminished Piano Chords

Lets learn how to build a half diminished piano chord. This chord is formed by
combining the root, 3rd, 5th and 7th of the major scale. It is the same as a minor
seventh flat five chord. It is written with the symbol . For example C half diminished is
written C. It can also be represented as mi 7-5or -75.

C half diminished C E G B

C half diminished C E G B

D half diminished D F A C

E half diminished E G B(A) D

E half diminished E G B D

F half diminished F A C(B) E

F half diminished F A C E

G half diminished G B D F

A half diminished A C E(D) G

A half diminished A C E G

B half diminished B D F(E) A

B half diminished B D F A