Chord types
Major chords (C, G, D…)
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5. It sounds stable, bright and cheerful. It's the basic chord of almost any song: it works as a point of arrival (the tonic) and as a passing chord. Example: C major (C).
Minor chords (Am, Em, Dm…)
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5. It sounds stable but darker, melancholic or intimate. It shows up in ballads, boleros, pasillos and almost all popular music; in a major key it's usually the relative chord or the second degree. Example: C minor (Cm).
Seventh or dominant chords (G7, D7…)
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7. It sounds tense: it wants to resolve to another chord. It's the dominant chord (V7): it sets up the arrival at the tonic and is the foundation of blues, son and many song endings. Example: C seventh (C7).
Major seventh chords (Cmaj7, Fmaj7…)
Formula: 1 – 3 – 5 – 7. It sounds soft, open and dreamy. Widely used in bossa nova, jazz, ballads and pop: it adds color to the tonic or the fourth degree without creating strong tension. Example: C major seventh (Cmaj7).
Minor seventh chords (Am7, Dm7…)
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7. It sounds relaxed, warm and a little melancholic. It's the second degree of the jazz ii–V–I progression and shows up in salsa, funk, neo soul and pop. Example: C minor seventh (Cm7).
Suspended second chords (Dsus2, Asus2…)
Formula: 1 – 2 – 5. It sounds open and ambiguous: neither major nor minor. It's used to open up the sound of a major or minor chord, in pop and rock strumming and in intros with open strings. Example: C sus2 (Csus2).
Suspended fourth chords (Dsus4, Asus4…)
Formula: 1 – 4 – 5. It sounds suspended, eager to return to the major chord. It usually resolves to the major chord with the same root (Xsus4 → X): a classic embellishment in strumming and endings. Example: C sus4 (Csus4).
Diminished chords (Bdim, C♯dim…)
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5. It sounds unstable and tense. It's the seventh degree of the major scale and works as a passing chord between two chords a whole step apart. Example: C diminished (Cdim).
Augmented chords (Caug, Gaug…)
Formula: 1 – 3 – ♯5. It sounds mysterious and suspenseful. It appears as a passing chord (for example I → I augmented → vi) and in intros to ballads and boleros. Example: C augmented (Caug).
Half-diminished chords (Bm7♭5, Em7♭5…)
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7. It sounds tense but soft, with a dark color. It's the second degree in minor keys (iiø–V7–i), very common in boleros, tango and jazz. Example: C half-diminished (Cm7♭5).
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic guitar chords?
The first ones people learn are the open chords: C, G, D, A and E major, and A minor (Am), E minor (Em) and D minor (Dm). With them you can already play along to a huge number of songs. Our basic chords guide tells you which order to learn them in.
How do you read a chord diagram?
The vertical lines are the strings (the thickest on the left) and the horizontal lines are the frets. Each dot shows where to press, and the number is the finger: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. An × above a string means you don't play it, and a ○ means it rings open. If there's a number beside the diagram, it starts at that fret.
What do letter chord symbols (C, Dm, G7…) mean?
It's a way of writing chords with letters: C = Do, D = Re, E = Mi, F = Fa, G = Sol, A = La and B = Si. An “m” means minor (Am = A minor), a “7” means seventh (G7 = G seventh) and “maj7” means major seventh.
What is a barre?
A barre is when your index finger presses several strings at the same fret, acting as a movable nut. It lets you play any chord by moving the same shape along the neck. Our guide to barre chords explains how to do it without pain.
What's the difference between a major and a minor chord?
Only one note changes: the third. In a major chord it's two whole steps above the root (C – E), and in a minor chord it's a step and a half above (C – E♭). That's why major sounds bright and minor sounds darker or more melancholic.