Guitar chord types

Each chord type has its own page with its formula, a chord chart in all 12 keys and the scales that fit over it. The charts are the shapes Guitar Upscale plays when you tap a chord.

Not sure how chords come from a key? Read how to find the chords in a key.

Triads and power chords

Three note chords and the two note power chord. Learn these first.

Major Chord (1 3 5): A major chord is a root, a major third and a perfect fifth. It sounds bright, stable and happy.
Minor Chord (1 b3 5): A minor chord is a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. It sounds darker and sadder than a major chord.
Diminished Chord (1 b3 b5): A diminished chord is a root, a minor third and a flat fifth. It sounds tense and wants to move on.
Augmented Chord (1 3 #5): An augmented chord is a root, a major third and a raised fifth. It sounds dreamy and unresolved.
Suspended 2nd Chord (sus2) (1 2 5): A sus2 chord swaps the third for the second, an open sound that is neither major nor minor.
Suspended 4th Chord (sus4) (1 4 5): A sus4 chord swaps the third for the fourth, a tense sound that wants to fall back to the major chord.
Power Chord (5) (1 5): A power chord is a root and a fifth, with no third. It is the backbone of rock and metal rhythm guitar.

Seventh chords

A triad plus a 7th. These are the chords of jazz, soul and the blues.

Major 7th Chord (maj7) (1 3 5 7): A major 7th chord adds the major seventh to a major triad, a soft, jazzy and dreamy sound.
Minor 7th Chord (m7) (1 b3 5 b7): A minor 7th chord adds the flat seventh to a minor triad, a smooth minor sound used in funk, soul and jazz.
Dominant 7th Chord (7) (1 3 5 b7): A dominant 7th chord adds the flat seventh to a major triad. It drives back to the home chord and is the base of the blues.
Diminished 7th Chord (dim7) (1 b3 b5 6): A diminished 7th chord stacks three minor thirds, a symmetric, tense chord that can resolve in four directions.
Half Diminished Chord (m7b5) (1 b3 b5 b7): A half diminished chord is a diminished triad with a flat seventh, the ii chord of a minor key.
Minor Major 7th Chord (mMaj7) (1 b3 5 7): A minor major 7th chord is a minor triad with a major seventh, a dark, mysterious sound from film and jazz.
7sus4 Chord (1 4 5 b7): A 7sus4 chord is a dominant 7th chord with the fourth in place of the third, a tense, open sound.

Sixth and added note chords

A triad with one extra colour note and no 7th.

Major 6th Chord (6) (1 3 5 6): A major 6th chord adds the sixth to a major triad, a sweet sound from swing, country and early rock and roll.
Minor 6th Chord (m6) (1 b3 5 6): A minor 6th chord adds the major sixth to a minor triad, a dark, jazzy chord from Gypsy jazz and film music.
6/9 Chord (1 3 5 6 9): A 6/9 chord adds the sixth and ninth to a major triad, a bright, open chord that holds the major pentatonic.
Add9 Chord (1 3 5 9): An add9 chord adds the ninth to a major triad without a seventh, a bright, ringing pop and rock chord.
Minor Add9 Chord (madd9) (1 b3 5 9): A minor add9 chord adds the ninth to a minor triad, a sad, beautiful sound used in ballads.
Add11 Chord (1 3 5 11): An add11 chord adds the eleventh to a major triad, an open chord with a gentle clash.
Minor Add11 Chord (madd11) (1 b3 5 11): A minor add11 chord adds the eleventh to a minor triad, an open, modern minor sound.

Extended chords

Seventh chords with a 9th, 11th or 13th stacked on top.

Major 9th Chord (maj9) (1 3 5 7 9): A major 9th chord adds the ninth to a major 7th chord, a lush, open jazz and neo soul sound.
Minor 9th Chord (m9) (1 b3 5 b7 9): A minor 9th chord adds the ninth to a minor 7th chord, a smooth sound common in soul, funk and R&B.
Dominant 9th Chord (9) (1 3 5 b7 9): A dominant 9th chord adds the ninth to a dominant 7th chord, the classic funk and blues chord.
Minor Major 9th Chord (mMaj9) (1 b3 5 7 9): A minor major 9th chord adds the ninth to a minor major 7th chord, a dark and rich sound.
9sus4 Chord (1 4 5 b7 9): A 9sus4 chord adds the ninth to a 7sus4 chord, a smooth, modern dominant sound.
Major 11th Chord (maj11) (1 3 5 7 9 11): A major 11th chord stacks the ninth and eleventh on a major 7th chord, a rare chord with a clash between the 3rd and 11th.
Minor 11th Chord (m11) (1 b3 5 b7 9 11): A minor 11th chord stacks the ninth and eleventh on a minor 7th chord, an open, modern minor sound.
Dominant 11th Chord (11) (1 3 5 b7 9 11): A dominant 11th chord stacks the ninth and eleventh on a dominant 7th chord, close to a 9sus4 sound.
Major 13th Chord (maj13) (1 3 5 7 9 13): A major 13th chord adds the ninth and thirteenth to a major 7th chord, a full, lush jazz chord.
Minor 13th Chord (m13) (1 b3 5 b7 9 11 13): A minor 13th chord holds every note of the Dorian mode, a rich minor sound.
Dominant 13th Chord (13) (1 3 5 b7 9 13): A dominant 13th chord adds the ninth and thirteenth to a dominant 7th chord, a big band and blues favourite.
13sus4 Chord (1 4 5 b7 9 13): A 13sus4 chord adds the ninth and thirteenth to a 7sus4 chord, a wide, airy dominant chord.

Altered dominant chords

Dominant chords with a raised or lowered 5th, 9th, 11th or 13th. They add tension before the next chord.

7b5 Chord (1 3 b5 b7): A 7b5 chord is a dominant 7th chord with a flat fifth, a tense jazz dominant with a whole tone sound.
7#5 Chord (Augmented 7th) (1 3 #5 b7): A 7#5 chord is a dominant 7th chord with a raised fifth, a tense chord that rises into the next chord.
7b9 Chord (1 3 5 b7 b9): A 7b9 chord is a dominant 7th chord with a flat ninth, the dark dominant chord of minor keys.
7#9 Chord (Hendrix Chord) (1 3 5 b7 #9): A 7#9 chord is a dominant 7th chord with a sharp ninth, the gritty Hendrix chord of rock and funk.
7#11 Chord (1 3 5 b7 #11): A 7#11 chord is a dominant 7th chord with a sharp eleventh, the bright Lydian dominant sound.
7b13 Chord (1 3 5 b7 b13): A 7b13 chord is a dominant 7th chord with a flat thirteenth, a dark dominant that leads to a minor chord.
7#9#11 Chord (1 3 5 b7 #9 #11): A 7#9#11 chord is a dominant 7th chord with a sharp ninth and a sharp eleventh, a tense altered chord.
9#11 Chord (1 3 5 b7 9 #11): A 9#11 chord is a dominant 9th chord with a sharp eleventh, the full Lydian dominant chord.
9b13 Chord (1 3 5 b7 9 b13): A 9b13 chord is a dominant 9th chord with a flat thirteenth, a dominant with both a bright and a dark note.
13#11 Chord (1 3 5 b7 9 #11 13): A 13#11 chord stacks the ninth, sharp eleventh and thirteenth on a dominant 7th chord, the full Lydian dominant sound.
13b9 Chord (1 3 5 b7 b9 13): A 13b9 chord is a dominant 13th chord with a flat ninth, a jazz dominant with tension and sweetness at once.
13#9 Chord (1 3 5 b7 #9 13): A 13#9 chord is a dominant 13th chord with a sharp ninth, a bluesy jazz dominant.