Sometimes, you want to learn to play a song, but you can’t because you aren’t familiar with one or more of the chords. Boo.

In truth, this is not a good reason to get stuck! It’s actually very easy to find all the chords if you know the trick!

This series of posts will help you navigate the forest of chords, both major and minor:

3-Step formula to build any Major Chord

There is an easy 3-step formula for building any major triad (a triad is a 3-note chord).

Let’s use A Major as an example.

1. Start from the root of the chord. That is the first note of your chord.

The root of an A Major chord is “A”.

2. Move 4 half-steps to the right. That is the second note of your chord.

4 half-steps up from “A” is “C#”.

(What’s a half step?)

3. Move 3 more half-steps to the right. That is the third note of your chord.

3 half-steps up from “C#” is “E”.

Let’s try it again using a more intimidating sounding chord, Eb Major:

1. Start from the root of the chord. That is the first note of your chord.

The root of an Eb Major chord is “Eb”.

2. Move 4 half-steps to the right. That is the second note of your chord.

4 half-steps up from “Eb” is “G”.

3. Move 3 more half-steps to the right. That is the third note of your chord.

3 half-steps up from “G” is “Bb”.

3-Step formula to build any minor chord

There is also an easy 3 step formula to build any minor chord. In fact, it is the same as the formula for building a major chord, just flipped!

Instead of the major chord formula:

root, up 4 half-steps, up 3 half-steps,

the minor chord formula is:

root, up 3 half-steps, up 4 half-steps.

Let’s use Cm as an example:

1. Start from the root of the chord. That is the first note of your chord.

The root of a Cm chord is “C”.

2. Move 3 half-steps to the right. That is the second note of your chord.

3 half-steps up from “C” is “Eb”.

3. Move 4 more half-steps to the right. That is the third note of your chord.

4 half-steps up from “Eb” is “G”.

Let’s try it again using a more intimidating sounding chord, G#m:

1. Start from the root of the chord. That is the first note of your chord.

The root of a G#m chord is “G#”.

2. Move 3 half-steps to the right. That is the second note of your chord.

3 half-steps up from “G#” is “B”.

3. Move 4 more half-steps to the right. That is the third note of your chord.

4 half-steps up from “B” is “D#”.

Major and minor chords: a different perspecive

If you are familiar with intervals, you can also look at it this way:

Major Chord = Root, major third, minor third

Minor Chord = Root, minor third, major third

(If you aren’t familiar with intervals, an interval just means the distance between two notes.

A major third = 4 half steps.

A minor third = 3 half steps.)

Conclusion

This is a great method for finding any major or minor chord ahead of time. It probably isn’t a great way of memorizing the whole bunch though. And if you’re playing on the fly, it could be a bit slow …

Next post, I will show you another way to find all the major and minor chords. Stay tuned!

Action Step:

Pick a song that you have been afraid of because it has a chord you don’t know. Go and tackle it now!!

(No need to fear – it’s just a song, after all 🙂 )