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How to form chords

Although chord finders are valuable tools on the Internet, what do we do when we’re sitting at the piano without computer access, trying to figure out chords? Here’s a breakdown of the many chord formation you’ll use when playing the piano. Yes, there are augmented chords, and there are 9, 11, and 13 chords. I’ve chosen some basic ones to start with.

Major
Minor
dominating the 7th
sus4
sus2 and add9
diminished
major sevenths
major chords

Starting from the root note, count FIVE semitones (5 semitones). Always use the root note when counting. This will take you to the second note of the chord. From this note inclusive, count FOUR semitones (4 semitones). This will take us to the final note of the chord.

Example: C Major – C is the root note of this chord. Count up to 5 semitones from C: C=1, C#= 2, D=3, Eb=4, E=5. Then count up 4 semitones from the second note of the chord: E=1, F=2, F#=3, G=4. Play C, E and G together and you have a C major chord. By using this ‘FIVE then FOUR’ rule, you can resolve any major chord.

Minor chords (m)

For minor chords, just reverse the rule for solving major chords. Instead of counting 5 and then 4, count 4 and then 5.

Example: C minor – C is the root note of this chord. Count up 4 semitones from C: C=1, C#=2, D=3, Eb=4. Then count up 5 semitones from the second note of the chord: Eb=1, E=2, F=3, F#=4, G=5. Play C, Eb and G together and you have a C minor chord. By using this FOUR then FIVE rule, you can resolve any minor chord.

Dominant seventh chords (7)

With seventh chords, add an additional note to the chord. This additional note is always the note two semitones (1 whole step) below the root note. However, it doesn’t play this note at the bottom of the chord, it just moves it to the top of the chord.

Example: C7 – Make a C major chord… C, E and G. The root note of this chord is C. Two semitones (1 full step) below the root note is Bb. Add this Bb above. of the chord and we have a C7 chord – C, E, G and Bb. The same rule applies to working with minor seventh chords.

sus4 chords

Example: CSUS4

Play C major – C, E, G. Move the middle note of the chord UP one semitone (1 half step). In this example, move E up one semitone. This brings us to F. Play C, F and G together and we have a Csus4 chord.

Sus2 and add9 Chords

Sus2 Chords – Example: Sus

Play C major – C, E, G. Move the middle note of the chord DOWN two semitones (1 full step). In this example, move the E down two semitones. This brings us to D. Play C, D and G together and we have a Csus2 chord.

Add9 Chords: These chords are almost identical to sus2 chords. The only difference is that it also plays the middle note. So Cadd9 is made up of C, D, E and G

Diminished (dim) chords

Example: Cdim

Play C major – C, E and G. Move the UPPER TWO NOTES of the chord DOWN one semitone (1 half step). In this example, move E and G down a semitone. This brings us to Eb and F#. Play C, Eb and F# together and we have a Cdim chord.

Major seventh chords (M7)

These chords are used a lot in Jazz music. With major seventh chords, add an extra note to the chord. This additional note is always the note ONE semitone (1 semitone) below the root note. However, it does not play this note at the bottom of the chord. Just move it to the top of the chord.

Example: CM7 – Make a C major chord… C, E and G. The root note of this chord is C. One semitone (1 semitone) below the root note is B. Add this B to the top of the chord and we have a chord CM7… C, E, G and B.

Now you have some music theory to apply to your piano playing. Chord formation will lead to playing chord progressions which will then produce songs.