This reference table shows chord spellings for common chord types. The chart shows chord names, symbols, the interval formula and example labels and notes with C as the tonic. Knowing how these common chord types are built is helpful for understanding, transcribing and composing music.
| Chord | Symbols | Formula | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major | 1 3 5 | C | C E G | |
| Minor | m | 1 ♭3 5 | Cm | C E♭ G |
| Diminished | dim, °, m♭5 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 | C° | C E♭ G♭ |
| Augmented | aug, + | 1 3 ♯5 | C+ | C E G♯ |
| Dominant 7th | 7 | 1 3 5 ♭7 | C7 | C E G B♭ |
| Major 7th | maj7, M7 | 1 3 5 7 | Cmaj7 | C E G B |
| Minor 7th | m7 | 1 ♭3 5 ♭7 | Cm7 | C E♭ G B♭ |
| Half diminished | m7♭5, ø | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7 | Cø7 | C E♭ G♭ B♭ |
| Diminished 7th | dim7, °7 | 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7 | C°7 | C E♭ G♭ B♭♭ |
| Suspended 2nd | sus2 | 1 2 5 | Csus2 | C D G |
| Suspended 4th | sus4 | 1 4 5 | Csus4 | C F G |
| 7th suspended 2nd | 7sus2 | 1 2 5 ♭7 | C7sus2 | C D G B♭ |
| 7th suspended 4th | 7sus4 | 1 4 5 ♭7 | C7sus4 | C F G B♭ |
| Major 6th | 6 | 1 3 5 6 | C6 | C E G A |
| Minor 6th | m6 | 1 ♭3 5 6 | Cm6 | C E♭ G A |
| Added 4th | add4 | 1 3 4 5 | Cadd4 | C E F G |
| Added 9th | add9 | 1 3 5 9 | Cadd9 | C E G D |