Guitar chord formulas
See how changing one interval transforms a chord. Each marker shows a chord tone measured in semitones from the root.
Intervals from the root
Each neighboring position is one semitone apart. A ninth shares the second's pitch class but lies an octave higher; the same applies to 11 and 13.
Unison
Minor second
Major second
Also 9 an octave higher
Minor third
Major third
Perfect fourth
Also 11 an octave higher
Tritone
Perfect fifth
Minor sixth
Major sixth
Also 13 an octave higher
Minor seventh
Major seventh
Octave
Triads
Seventh chords
Suspended chords
Sixths and added ninths
How a chord changes
Compare major, seventh, sixth, added ninth, suspended and minor sounds at five familiar CAGED roots. Each diagram is a verified E- or A-form fingering; the root and formula stay visible above it.
The diagrams show playable voicings for comparison. Changing quality may require a different fingering, even when the root stays the same.
G
C
E
A
D
See the formula on a guitar diagram
C major uses R, 3, 5. Lowering the third by one semitone makes C minor: R, ♭3, 5. The fretboard diagram is one playable voicing; the formula describes the chord independently of fingering.
Remember roots with CAGED shapes
Each diagram shows only the C root notes in a movable CAGED chord shape. Follow the R markers to see where the same root appears on different strings and frets.