Chord Spelling

 

Chord Spelling (ML02_ChordSpelling.shtml) | Updated: 09-Oct-2008 - 13:36

Chord Building and Spelling

Learning What the Chord Tones of Chords Are

By memorizing one sequence of notes, the major scales (key signatures) and a few chord building rules we can learn to spell ANY chord. This is a beneficial skill to have for harmonizing a melody with a chord and for improving your improvisations.

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All 15 Major Scales

 

 C Major - Key of C

 No sharps or flats. The white keys of the piano.

C Major Scale:

C

D

E

F

G

A

B

Triads:

Cmaj

Dm

Em

Fmaj

Gmaj

Am

Bdim

4-Part Chords:

Cmaj7

Dm7

Em7

Fmaj7

G7

Am7

Bm7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

Sharp Keys

 G Major - Key of G

 1 Sharp: F#

G Major Scale:

G

A

B

C

D

E

F#

Triads:

Gmaj

Am

Bm

Cmaj

Dmaj

Em

F#dim

4-Part Chords:

Gmaj7

Am7

Bm7

Cmaj7

D7

Em7

F#m7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 D Major - Key of D

 2 Sharps: F# C#

D Major Scale:

D

E

F#

G

A

B

C#

Triads:

Dmaj

Em

F#m

Gmaj

Amaj

Bm

C#dim

4-Part Chords:

Dmaj7

Em7

F#m7

Gmaj7

A7

Bm7

C#m7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 A Major - Key of A

 Sharps: F# C# G#

A Major Scale:

A

B

C#

D

E

F#

G#

Triads:

Amaj

Bm

C#m

Dmaj

Emaj

F#m

G#dim

4-Part Chords:

Amaj7

Bm7

C#m7

Dmaj7

E7

F#m

G#m7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 E Major - Key of E

 Sharps: F# C# G# D#

E Major Scale:

E

F#

G#

A

B

C

D#

Triads:

Emaj

F#m

G#m

Amaj

Bmaj

Cm

D#dim

4-Part Chords:

Emaj7

F#m7

G#m7

Amaj7

B7

Cm7

D#m7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 B Major - Key of B

 5 Sharps: F# C# G# D# A# - B and E are only natural notes

B Major Scale:

B

C#

D#

E

F#

G#

A#

Triads:

Bmaj

C#m

D#m

Emaj

F#maj

G#m

A#dim

4-Part Chords:

Bmaj7

C#m7

D#m7

Emaj7

F#7

G#m7

A#m7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 F# Major - Key of F#

 6 Sharps: F# C# G# D# A# E# - only natural note is B

F# Major Scale:

F#

G#

A#

B

C#

D#

E#

Triads:

F#maj

G#m

A#m

Bmaj

C#maj

D#m

E#dim

4-Part Chords:

F#maj7

G#m7

A#m7

Bmaj7

C#7

D#m7

E#m7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 C# Major - Key of C#

 All seven notes are sharp. Just as easy to remember as C with no sharps or flats.

C# Major Scale:

C#

D#

E#

F#

G#

A#

B#

Triads:

C#maj

D#m

E#m

F#maj

G#maj

A#m

B#dim

4-Part Chords:

C#maj7

D#m7

E#m7

F#maj7

G#7

A#m7

B#m7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

Flat Keys

 F Major - Key of F

 1 Flat: Bb

F Major Scale:

F

G

A

Bb

C

D

E

Triads:

Fmaj

Gm

Am

Bbmaj

Cmaj

Dm

Edim

4-part Chords:

Fmaj7

Gm7

Am7

Bbmaj7

C7

Dm7

Em7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 B Flat Major - Key of B Flat

 2 Flats: Bb, Eb

Bb Major Scale:

Bb

C

D

Eb

F

G

A

Triads:

Bbmaj

Cm

Dm

Ebmaj

Fmaj

Gm

Adim

4-Part Chords:

Bbmaj7

Cm7

Dm7

Ebmaj7

F7

Gm7

Am7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 E Flat Major - Key of E Flat

 3 Flats: Bb Eb Ab

bE Major Scale:

Eb

F

G

Ab

Bb

C

D

Triads:

Ebmaj

Fm

Gm

Abmaj

Bbmaj

Cm

Ddim

4-Part Chords:

Ebmaj7

Fm7

Gm7

Abmaj7

Bb7

Cm7

Dm7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 A Flat Major - Key of A Flat

 4 Flats: Bb Eb Ab Db

Ab Major Scale:

Ab

Bb

C

Db

Eb

F

G

Triads:

Abmaj

Bbm

Cm

Dbmaj

Ebmaj

Fm

Gdim

4-Part Chords:

Abmaj7

Bbm7

Cm7

Dbmaj7

Eb7

Fm

Gm7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 D Flat Major - Key of D Flat

 5 Flats: Bb Eb Ab Db Gb

Db Major Scale:

Db

Eb

F

Gb

Ab

Bb

C

Triads:

Dbmaj

Ebm

Fm

Gbmaj

Abmaj

Bbm

Cdim

4-Part Chords:

Dbmaj7

Ebm7

Fm7

Gbmaj7

Ab7

Bbm7

Cm7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 G Flat Major - Key of G Flat

 5 Flats: Bb Eb Ab Db Gb - Only C and F are natural notes.

Gb Major Scale:

Gb

Ab

Bb

C

Db

Eb

F

Triads:

Gbmaj

Abm

Bbm

Cmaj

Dbmaj

Ebm

Fdim

4-Part Chords:

Gbmaj7

Abm7

Bbm7

Cmaj7

Db7

Ebm7

Fm7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

 C Flat Major - Key of C Flat

 All seven notes are flat. As easy to remember as C with no sharps or flats..

Cb Major Scale:

Cb

Db

Eb

Fb

Gb

Ab

Bb

Triads:

Cbmaj

Dbm

Ebm

Fbmaj

Gbmaj

Abm

Bbdim

4-Part Chords:

Cbmaj7

Dbm7

Ebm7

Fbmaj7

Gb7

Abm7

Bbm7b5

Scale Degrees:

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

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Curt Sheller is the author of over 30 books on guitar, ukulele and music. A jazz guitarist and educator with over 40 years playing experience and 20 years teaching. Curt's JazzGuitarResources.com and UkuleleResources.com web sites are considered the top resource for jazz guitarists and ukulele players. Get a FREE subscription to Curt's newsletter.

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