Build chords using steps
This guide explains how chords are built using half-step intervals. If you know the step patterns that form different chords, you can play a wide variety of chords, from basic triads to complex extended harmonies. The sections with lists show how chords from different categories are built with half-step intervals.
Knowing the intervals (the numbers of steps distance between keys or notes) makes it possible to play more or less any chord. For example, for C major it is four half steps and three half steps from the root. Knowing such sequences for any chord will make easy to build tons of chords including C, Cm, C7, Cm7, C9, Cm9, C11, Cm11, C13 and Cm13 with various root notes.
Building triads
Triads are three-note chords and the main categories are major, minor, diminished and augmented:
- Major triad (root, 4 steps, 3 steps)
- Minor triad (root, 3 steps, 4 steps)
- Diminished triad (root, 3 steps, 3 steps)
- Augmented triad (root, 4 steps, 4 steps)
Steps are referring to half steps. So, between C and E, there are four half steps.
C Major with root, 4 steps and 3 steps.
Building seventh chords
Seventh chords are characterized by the seventh interval that extends a triad chord:
- Major 7 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps)
- Minor 7 (root, 3 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps)
- Dominant 7 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 3 steps)
- Diminished 7 (root, 3 steps, 3 steps, 3 steps)
- Augmented 7 (root, 4 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps)
Whereas major 7th chord includes a major seventh interval, minor 7th, dominant 7th and augmented 7th chords included a minor seventh interval. are referring to half steps. The diminished 7th stands out by including a double flattened seventh.
Cmaj7 with root, 4 steps, 3 steps and 4 steps.
Building ninth chords
Ninth chords are characterized by the ninth interval that extends a seventh chord:
- Major 9 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps)
- Minor 9 (root, 3 steps, 4 steps, 4 steps)
- Dominant 9 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps)
All three categories include the same ninth interval. For example, Cmaj9, Cm9 and C9 all include a D note.
Cmaj9 with root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps and 3 steps.
Building eleventh chords
Eleventh chords are characterized by the eleventh interval that extends a ninth chord:
- Major 11 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps, 3 steps)
- Minor 11 (root, 3 steps, 4 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps)
- Dominant 11 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps)
All three categories include the same eleventh interval. For example, Cmaj11, Cm11 and C11 all include an F note.
Building thirteenth chords
Thirteenth chords are characterized by the thirteenth interval that extends an eleventh chord:
- Major 13 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps)
- Minor 13 (root, 3 steps, 4 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps)
- Dominant 13 (root, 4 steps, 3 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps, 3 steps, 4 steps)
All three categories include the same thirteenth interval. For example, Cmaj13, Cm13 and C13 all include an A note.
Whether you're studying music theory or just playing the piano for fun, knowing these relationships can be very helpful for understand and learn chords.
See also Chord symbols ›