Chord Calculator
Find the notes and scale-degree formula for major, minor, seventh, ninth, suspended, and other chord types in any key.
What Is a Chord?
A chord is three or more notes played together. Triads use a root, third, and fifth. Seventh chords add a seventh above the root. Knowing chord spelling helps with composition, improvisation, and reading lead sheets.
How Chord Notes Are Built
Every chord type maps to scale degrees from the major scale of the root note. For example, a C major chord uses degrees 1, 3, and 5 from the C major scale: C, E, and G.
A C minor chord lowers the third: C, E♭, G. Accidentals in the formula (♭3, ♯5, ♭7) tell you which degrees to alter.
Related tools: Chord Finder, Chord Inversion Calculator, and BPM Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in a C major chord?
C major contains C, E, and G. The formula is 1, 3, 5 from the C major scale.
How is a minor chord different from major?
A minor chord lowers the third by one semitone. C minor is C, E♭, G instead of C, E, G.
What is a dominant seventh chord?
A dominant seventh adds a flattened seventh above the root. C7 is C, E, G, B♭ and often resolves to F major.
What is a power chord?
A power chord (fifth chord) uses only the root and fifth, such as C5 = C and G. It is common in rock and metal.
What does half-diminished mean?
A half-diminished chord (m7♭5) has a minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh. Cm7♭5 is C, E♭, G♭, B♭.
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