Chord Symbols & Alterations Cheat Sheets

♫ Need a refresher? Read more about chords and alterations here.

Click on one of the tabs below to see all chord types at a glance—including major chord alterations, minor chord alterations, dominant chord alterations, diminished chords, and even slash chords!
Click below to get started!

C Major Chords and Alterations

Below are all the different types of C chords with major tonality and harmonic function.

Chord Name:

C

C5

Csus4

Csus2

Caug (or C+)

C(add9)

C6

C6/9

Cmaj7

Cmaj7#5

Cmaj9

Cmaj7#11

Cmaj13

C Minor Chords and Alterations

Below are all the different types of C chords with minor tonality and harmonic function.

Chord Name:

Cm

Cm(add 9)

Cm6

Cmb6

Cm6/9

Cm7

Cm7b5 (or Cø7)

Cm9

Cm11

Cm13

Formula:

1-3-5

1-5

1-4-5

1-2-5

1-3-#5

1-3-5-9

1-3-5-6

1-3-5-6-9

1-3-5-7

1-3-#5-7

1-3-5-7-9

1-3-5-7-9-#11

1-3-5-7-9-13

Formula:

1-b3-5

1-b3-5-9

1-b3-5-6

1-b3-5-b6

1-b3-5-6-9

1-b3-5-b7

1-b3-b5-b7

1-b3-5-b7-9

1-b3-5-b7-9-11

1-b3-5-b7-9-11-13

Notes:

C-E-G

C-G

C-F-G

C-D-G

C-E-G#

C-E-G-D

C-E-G-A

C-E-G-A-D

C-E-G-B

C-E-G#-B

C-E-G-B-D

C-E-G-B-D-F#

C-E-G-B-D-A

Notes:

C-Eb-G

C-Eb-G-D

C-Eb-G-A

C-Eb-G-Ab

C-Eb-G-A-D

C-Eb-G-Bb

C-Eb-Gb-Bb

C-Eb-G-Bb-D

C-Eb-G-Bb-D-F

C-Eb-G-Bb-D-F-A

C Dominant Chords and Alterations

Dominant chords are formed on the fifth degree of a major scale, and carry a significant amount of tension. They serve a specific harmonic function by seeking resolution to the 1 chord. All of the chords below, based on C, are dominant in function and strive for resolution to the key of F major/minor.

Note: Whenever you encounter a 7, 9, 11, or 13 following a chord with no major or minor indication (ex. C7), it will always signify that the chord is
dominant in function and will have a lowered 7th in the chord. If you see a “maj” or “m” before the 7, the chord is not dominant.

Chord Name:

C7

C7sus4

C7b5

C7#5 (C+7)

C7b5b9

C7b9

C7#9

C7#11

C7b13

C9

C11

C13

Formula:

1-3-5-b7

1-4-5-b7

1-3-b5-b7

1-3-#5-b7

1-3-b5-b7-b9

1-3-5-b7-b9

1-3-5-b7-#9

1-3-5-b7-#11

1-3-5-b7-b13

1-3-5-b7-9

1-(no 3)-5-b7-9-11

1-3-5-b7-9-13

Notes:

C-E-G-Bb

C-F-G-Bb

C-E-Gb-Bb

C-E-G#-Bb

C-E-Gb-Bb-Db

C-E-G-Bb-Db

C-E-G-Bb-D#

C-E-G-Bb-F#

C-E-G-Bb-Ab

C-E-G-Bb-D

C-G-Bb-D-F

C-E-G-Bb-D-A

C Diminished Chord Variations

Diminished chords are built on the seventh degree of a major key, and in a minor key, on the second degree as well. These chords serve a clear harmonic purpose by moving from dissonance to consonance, or facilitating modulation into new key signatures or musical progressions.

Chord Name:

Cdim

Chalfdim7 (Cø7)

Cdim7 (C°7)

Formula:

1-b3-b5

1-b3-b5-b7

1-b3-b5-bb7

Notes:

C-Eb-Gb

C-Eb-Gb-Bb

C-Eb-Gb-Bbb

C Slash Chord Variations

Slash chords are a unique chord notation that indicates a specific bass note to be played with a given chord. In a worship band context, the chord symbol on the right of the slash indicates the note to be played by the bass, and the chord symbol on the left of the slash represents the harmony played by the other instruments. In a solo instrument context, the player performs both the chord and bass note simultaneously, creating a fuller harmonic texture.

Green: Major chords Red: Minor chords Orange: Dominant chords

Chord Name:

C/E

C2/E

C/G

Cm/Eb

Cm/G

Cm/Bb

Cm/A

C7/E

C7/G

C7/Bb

Formula:

3-1-3-5

3-1-2-5

5-1-3-5

b3-1-b3-5

5-1-b3-5

b7-1-b3-5

6-1-b3-5

3-1-3-5-b7

5-1-3-5-b7

b7-1-3-5-b7

Notes:

E-C-E-G

E-C-D-G

E-C-E-G

Eb-C-Eb-G

G-C-Eb-G

Bb-C-Eb-G

A-C-Eb-G

E-C-E-G-Bb

G-C-E-G-Bb

Bb-C-E-G-Bb

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