Chord Construction & Theory

(1)
1

3
2

T
R
I
A
D
S
7th
C
H
O
R
D
S

5
4

(3)

(5)

(7)

8va

7= Tone Centers
6 = Colors

Major Chord

1, 3, 5

CEG

Minor Chord

1, b3, 5

C Eb G

Diminished Chord

1, b3, b5

C Eb Gb

Augmented Chord

1, 3, #5

C E G#

Major 7th Chord

1, 3, 5, 7

CEGB

Dominant 7th

1, 3, 5, b7

C E G Bb

Minor 7th

1, b3, 5, b7

C Eb G Bb

Diminished 7th

1, b3, b5, bb7

C Eb Gb Bbb

th

(7 Chord)

Half Diminished 7th1, b3, b5, b7

C Eb Gb Bb

(Minor 7 b5)
A triad is constructed with the 1st (root), 3rd, and 5th, notes of a scale. A seventh chord is a
triad with the addition of the seventh scale degree. Triads are three note chords stacked in
thirds. A major triad consists of a major third stacked with a minor third. All triads are
alterations of the basic principle of stacking thirds.