TEACHING AIDS FOR FIRST-YEAR THEORY
David Horton
POP CHORD SYMBOLOGY
| SYMBOL | DESCRIPTION | TYPICAL EXAMPLE |
| Cap. Letter | major triad | A |
| Cap. Letter w. m, min, or - | minor triad |
Am |
| Cap. Letter w. 7 | major triad w. minor 7 | A7 |
| Cap. Letter w. M7, Maj7, maj7 | major triad with major 7 | AM7 |
Cap. Letter w.
or 7 |
major triad w. major 7 | A |
| Cap. Letter w. 2 | major triad w. major 2 | A2 |
| Cap. Letter w. 6 | major triad w. major 6 | A6 |
| Cap. Letter w. ° or dim | diminished triad | A° |
| Cap. Letter w. + or aug | augmented triad | A+ |
| Cap. Letter w. sus or sus4 | no 3rd, add 4th | Asus |
| Cap. Letter / Cap. Letter |
first letter is chord; second letter is bass note |
A/E |
| Cap. Letter w. N.C. | root note only, no chord | A N.C. |
| Cap. Letter w. No 3 | root and 5th only | A no 3 |
| Cap. Letter w. ø and 7 | dim. triad, minor 7th | AØ7 |
| Cap. Letter w. ° and 7 | dim. triad, dim. 7th | A°7 |
( ) Shows alteration of a lower chord member. Am7(b5)
( ) May also be used for clarity; e.g., does Ab9 = A(b9) or Ab(9)?
A # or a b changes the number that follows it.
Higher numbers imply the lower numbers:
9 implies 7, and 9
11 implies 7, 9, and 11
13 implies 7, 9, 11, and 13
The quality of numbers are standard unless otherwise indicated:
2nd's are major
3rd's are major
4th's are perfect
5th's are perfect
6th's are major
7th's are minor
9th's are major - like 2nd's
11th's are perfect - like 4th's
13th's are major - like 6th's
Copyright © 2001 David Horton
July 24, 2001
