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BAIN MUSC 115
Music Theory I
Chord Types
TRIADS
The following 4 triad types1 are encountered in tonal music.
Type
K/P
symbol
Quality
symbol
Lead-sheet
symbol*
Chord
Spelling*
1.
Major
M
M
C
C, E, G
2.
Minor
m
m
Cm or C-
C, Eß, G
3.
Augmented
+
A
C+
C, E, Gƒ
4.
Diminished
o
d
Co
C, Eß, Gß
* For a chord whose root is C
SEVENTH CHORDS
The following 5 seventh-chord types are commonly encountered in tonal music.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Type
K/P
symbol
Quality
symbol2
Lead sheet
symbol*
Chord
Spelling*
Major-minor
seventh3
Major
seventh
Minor
seventh
Halfdiminished
seventh
Fullydiminished
seventh4
Mm7
Mm
C7
C, E, G, Bß
M7
MM
Cmaj7
C, E, G, B
m7
mm
Cm7
C, Eß, G, Bß
Ø7
dm
Cm7(b5) or CØ7
C, Eß, Gß, Bß
ø7
dd
Cdim7 or Co7
C, Eß, Gß, Bßß
* For a chord whose root is C
Reading
K/P Chapters 3-4. See also K/P Appendix B: Lead-Sheet Symbols.
1
The terms chord type and chord quality are often used interchangeably.
The first symbol represents the triad type. The second symbol represents the seventh type. Other seventh chord types
are possible: e.g., an Am chord (C, E, Gƒ, Bß) whose lead-sheet symbol is C7(ƒ5) or C+7. For more information about
seventh chords, see K/P Appendix B.
3
The terms major-minor seventh chord and dominant seventh chord are often used interchangeably.
4
The terms fully-diminished seventh chord and diminished seventh chord are often used interchangeably.
2