Music Theory - Chord Symbols

There are various Chord Symbols that can be combined to indicate many different types of chords.

Basic Chord Symbols:

• Letter Name (e.g., C) = Major chord
• m = minor chord
• + = Augmented chord
• o = diminished chord

Seventh Chords:

• 7 = minor seventh
• M7 = Major seventh
• Ø = half-diminished chord
• o7 = diminished seventh chord

Extended Chords:

• 9 = Ninth chord
• 11 = Eleventh chord
• 13 = Thirteenth chord

Altered Tones:

• b5 = flat fifth
• #5 = sharp fifth
• b9 = flat ninth
• #9 = sharp ninth
• #11 = sharp eleventh
• b13 = flat thirteenth

Examples:

• CM7 = a C Major chord with a Major seventh.
  
• Dm(M7) = a D minor chord with a Major seventh.

• Fm9 = an F minor chord with a minor seventh and ninth.

• C7#9 = a C Major chord with a minor seventh and a sharp ninth.