Chord components

Chord symbols consist of a root and a quality, with intervals, alterations, and an altered bass note included if required.

Root

The root note of the chord, expressed either as a note name or as a specific degree of a scale.

Quality

Defines the type of chord, such as major, minor, diminished, augmented, half-diminished, or with added note, such as six or nine.

Interval

Chord symbols can include one or more added intervals, such as a major seventh or ninth. Intervals in chord symbols are also known as “extensions”.

Alterations

Define notes in chords that are different to what is normally expected of that chord. For example, a sharpened fifth, flattened ninth, suspensions, or omissions.

Altered bass note

A chord symbol has an altered bass note if the lowest pitch of a chord is not its root note, such as Cm75/E.