Triad Chords
Two notes in harmony make counterpoint. Three or more notes make a chord. The simplest chords are the triads.
C
The C triad is made from the first, third and fifth of the diatonic scale.
| diatonic scale C | = | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
| chord C | = | C | E | G |
Cm
Little m is an abbreviation for minor. It says play the minor 3rd instead of the major 3rd.
| diatonic scale C | = | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
| chord C | = | C | E | G | |||||
| chord Cm | = | C | Eb | G |
Csus4
A suspended 4th chord has no 3rd. sus4 says play the diatonic 4th and omit the 3rd.
| diatonic scale C | = | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
| chord C | = | C | E | G | |||||
| chord Csus4 | = | C | F | G |
Cmb5
b5 says play the flat 5th instead of the diatonic 5th.
| Diatonic scale C | = | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
| chord C | = | C | E | G | |||||
| chord Cmb5 | = | C | Eb | Gb |
C+
+ says play the augmented 5th instead of the diatonic 5th.
| Diatonic scale C | = | C | D | E | F | G | A | B | C |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | ||
| chord C | = | C | E | G | |||||
| chord C+ | = | C | E | G# |
Triads in summary
| diatonic scale C | C | C# Db | D | D# Eb | E | F | F# Gb | G | G# Ab | A | A# Bb | B | C |
| Root | S | T | m3 | maj3 | 4 | b5 | 5 | + | 6 | V7 | maj7 | 8ve | |
| chord C | C | E | G | ||||||||||
| chord Cm | C | Eb | G | ||||||||||
| chord Csus4 | C | F | G | ||||||||||
| chord Cmb5 | C | Eb | Gb | ||||||||||
| chord C+ | C | E | G# |