Chord Formulas Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Building Guitar Chords
Learning guitar is exciting, but sooner or later every guitarist comes across chord names like Cmaj7, Am7, Gsus4, or Dadd9. At first, these names can seem confusing, but they all follow a simple pattern called a chord formula.
Understanding chord formulas helps you learn songs faster, create your own music, improvise confidently, and communicate with other musicians. Rather than memorising hundreds of chord shapes, you begin to understand why each chord sounds the way it does.
At Herts Guitar Lessons, we teach chord theory alongside practical playing, so our students don’t just copy shapes; they understand the music they play. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an intermediate guitarist, learning chord formulas can dramatically improve your musical confidence.
What Is a Chord Formula?
A chord formula tells us which notes from a scale are used to create a chord. Every major scale contains seven notes.
For example, the C Major Scale is:
C – D – E – F – G – A – B
Each note has a number:
C = 1
D = 2
E = 3
F = 4
G = 5
A = 6
B = 7
A chord formula simply selects certain numbers from the scale.
For example:
Major Chord = 1 – 3 – 5
Using the C Major scale:
1 = C
3 = E
5 = G
This creates:
C Major = C – E – G
Once you understand this concept, every chord becomes much easier to learn.
Major, Minor, Diminished and Augmented Chords
These four chord types form the foundation of most guitar music.
Major Chord (1–3–5)
Example:
C
E
G
Major chords sound:
Happy
Bright
Strong
Stable
Common examples include:
C
G
D
A
E
These are often the first chords beginners learn.
Minor Chord (1–♭3–5)
The third note is lowered by one semitone.
Example:
C
E♭
G
Minor chords sound:
Emotional
Darker
Softer
Reflective
Examples:
Am
Em
Dm
Bm
Many famous acoustic songs combine major and minor chords.
Diminished Chord (1–♭3–♭5)
Example:
C
E♭
G♭
These chords sound tense and unstable.
They’re commonly used:
before resolving to another chord
in jazz
in classical music
for dramatic transitions
Augmented Chord (1–3–#5)
Example:
C
E
G#
These create an unusual, mysterious sound.
Although less common in beginner songs, they’re popular in:
Jazz
Film music
Progressive rock
Seventh Chords Add More Colour
Once you’ve mastered basic chords, seventh chords make your playing richer and more expressive.
Major 7
Formula:
1 – 3 – 5 – 7
Example:
C – E – G – B
Produces a warm, smooth, jazzy sound.
Minor 7
Formula:
1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7
Example:
C – E♭ – G – B♭
Perfect for:
Blues
Soul
Jazz
Neo-soul
Dominant 7
Formula:
1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7
Example:
C – E – G – B♭
One of the most commonly used chords in blues and rock.
You’ll hear dominant seventh chords in countless classic songs.
Half Diminished
Formula:
1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7
Example:
C – E♭ – G♭ – B♭
This chord creates tension before resolving to another chord.
Suspended Chords (Sus2 and Sus4)
Suspended chords replace the third note.
Sus2
Formula:
1 – 2 – 5
Example:
C – D – G
Produces an open, airy sound.
Sus4
Formula:
1 – 4 – 5
Example:
C – F – G
Creates musical tension before resolving back to a major chord. Many rock bands use suspended chords to make chord progressions more interesting.
Sixth and Added Note Chords
These chords add extra colour without becoming overly complex.
Major 6
Formula:
1 – 3 – 5 – 6
Example:
C – E – G – A
Smooth and relaxed.
Minor 6
Formula:
1 – ♭3 – 5 – 6
Example:
C – E♭ – G – A
Common in jazz and blues.
6/9 Chord
Formula:
1 – 3 – 5 – 6 – 9
Example:
C – E – G – A – D
Produces a bright, modern sound often heard in jazz and pop.
Add9 Chords
Unlike ninth chords, Add9 chords do not include the seventh.
Major Add9
Formula:
1 – 3 – 5 – 9
Example:
C – E – G – D
A favourite in:
Acoustic guitar
Worship music
Indie
Pop
Minor Add9
Formula:
1 – ♭3 – 5 – 9
Example:
C – E♭ – G – D
Beautiful for emotional chord progressions.
Extended Chords: Major 11 and Major 13
As musicians become more advanced, they begin using extended chords.
Major 11
Formula:
1 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 9 – 11
Example:
C – E – G – B – D – F
Creates a rich harmonic texture.
Major 13
Formula:
1 – 3 – 7 – 13
Example:
C – E – B – A
Popular in:
Jazz
Fusion
Funk
R&B
Although these chords look complicated, they follow the same numbering system as every other chord.
Why Learning Chord Formulas Makes You a Better Guitarist
Many beginners memorise chord diagrams without understanding what they’re playing. Learning chord formulas helps you:
Learn songs faster
Understand music theory naturally
Build chords anywhere on the fretboard
Write your own songs
Improve improvisation skills
Recognise chord patterns by ear
Communicate easily with other musicians
Progress beyond simply copying chord charts
Instead of remembering hundreds of individual chord shapes, you learn one system that works across every key.
How We Teach Chord Theory at Herts Guitar Lessons
At Herts Guitar Lessons, we believe that great guitar players don’t just memorise chords; they understand them. During our lessons, we guide students through:
Understanding scales and intervals
Building major and minor chords
Learning seventh, suspended, and extended chords
Playing chords smoothly across the fretboard
Improving rhythm and chord changes
Developing confidence in improvisation and songwriting
Our lessons are tailored to each student’s experience level. Whether you’re picking up a guitar for the first time or returning after years away, we make learning enjoyable, practical, and easy to follow. Because every lesson is personalised, you can progress at your own pace while building strong musical foundations that will benefit you for years to come.
Book Your Free Guitar Demo Lesson
If you’ve always wanted to understand chords instead of simply memorising them, we’re here to help.
Our experienced instructors combine practical playing with easy-to-understand music theory, helping you become a more confident and capable guitarist. From your very first lesson, we’ll show you how chord formulas work and how to use them in real songs, making your learning journey both rewarding and enjoyable.
We also offer a FREE demo lesson, allowing you to meet your teacher, experience our teaching style, and see how personalised lessons can help you reach your musical goals.
Whether you’re interested in acoustic guitar, electric guitar, beginner lessons, or advancing your existing skills, we’d love to welcome you.
Book your FREE demo with Herts Guitar Lessons today and start building the knowledge and confidence to play your favourite songs with ease.
