Wide logo 50px dc2eab4ddd9ea72bb9687a3695ed1a8967bbe4d65d787247083f299d89ebcc97
  • Chords
    • Chords
    • Chord Families
    • Guitar Chord Patterns
    • Guitar Chord Groups
    • Bass Chord Patterns
  • Scales
    • Scales
    • Guitar Scale Patterns
    • Bass Scale Patterns
  • Lessons
    • Categories
  • Other
    • Guitar Fretboard
    • Bass Fretboard
  • References
  • Guitar
  • Mandolin
  • Ukulele
  • Chord Legend
  • Chord Families
  • Guitar Chord Groups
  • Home
  • Families

Chord Families

All chords in western music can be grouped into 1 of 4 chord families. The main difference between families (theory wise) are the triads or main 3 notes that makes up the core chord structure. The numbers listed next to the chord family name indicate the interval makeup of that family.

Major Family

(1,3,5)

Major - - (1-3-5)

Major 6 - 6 - (1-3-5-6)

Major 7 - Maj7 - (1-3-5-7)

Major 7 Flat 5 - Maj7b5 - (1-3-b5-7)

Major 7 Sharp 5 - Maj7#5 - (1-3-#5-7)

Major 9 - Maj9 - (1-3-5-7-9)

Minor Family

(1,b3,5)

minor - m - (1-b3-5)

minor 7 - m7 - (1-b3-5-b7)

minor 7 Flat 5 - m7b5 - (1-b3-b5-b7)

Dominant Family

(1,3,5,b7)

Dominant 13 - 13 - (1-3-5-b7-9-13)

Dominant 7 - 7 - (1-3-5-b7)

Dominant 7 Flat 9 - 7b9 - (1-3-5-b7-b9)

Dominant 7 Sharp 5 - 7#5 - (1-3-#5-b7)

Dominant 7 Sharp 5 Flat 9 - 7#5b9 - (1-3-#5-b7-b9)

Dominant 7 Sharp 5 Sharp 9 - 7#5#9 - (1-3-#5-b7-#9)

Dominant 7 Sharp 9 - 7#9 - (1-3-5-b7-#9)

Dominant 7 Suspended 4 - 7sus4 - (1-4-5-b7)

Dominant 9 - 9 - (1-3-5-b7-9)

Dominant 9 Suspended 4 - 9sus4 - (1-4-5-b7-9)

Other Family

Diminished - dim - (1-b3-b5)

Diminished 7 - dim7 - (1-b3-b5-bb7)

Octave - Octave - (1)

Power Chord - 5 - (1-5)

  • Home
  • Lesson Categories
  • Chords
  • Scales
© 2023 - Total Guitar and Bass