Interactive music theory

Chords & Scales

Explore chords, scales, modes, interval formulas, and harmonic relationships while keeping the full searchable catalog available.

Quick guide

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Use the foundational links for orientation, then search the full catalog when you need a specific color, alias, or formula.

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  1. Start from the foundational links, then open a detailed chord or scale page.
  2. Choose a key to transpose the same formula without changing its interval structure.
  3. Use search to find an advanced color, alias, or exact formula.
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C mMaj9

Chord
Explore omission variants (10)
C mMaj9(no1) Omitted degrees: no1 Remaining formula: b3-5-7-9 Remaining notes: Eb, G, B, D C mMaj9(no3) Omitted degrees: no3 Remaining formula: 1-5-7-9 Remaining notes: C, G, B, D C mMaj9(no5) Omitted degrees: no5 Remaining formula: 1-b3-7-9 Remaining notes: C, Eb, B, D C mMaj9(no7) Omitted degrees: no7 Remaining formula: 1-b3-5-9 Remaining notes: C, Eb, G, D C mMaj9(no1)(no3) Omitted degrees: no1, no3 Remaining formula: 5-7-9 Remaining notes: G, B, D C mMaj9(no1)(no5) Omitted degrees: no1, no5 Remaining formula: b3-7-9 Remaining notes: Eb, B, D C mMaj9(no1)(no7) Omitted degrees: no1, no7 Remaining formula: b3-5-9 Remaining notes: Eb, G, D C mMaj9(no3)(no5) Omitted degrees: no3, no5 Remaining formula: 1-7-9 Remaining notes: C, B, D C mMaj9(no3)(no7) Omitted degrees: no3, no7 Remaining formula: 1-5-9 Remaining notes: C, G, D C mMaj9(no5)(no7) Omitted degrees: no5, no7 Remaining formula: 1-b3-9 Remaining notes: C, Eb, D
mMaj9 mM9 minMaj9 mΔ9

      C mMaj9#11

      Chord
      Explore omission variants (14)
      C mMaj9#11(no1) Omitted degrees: no1 Remaining formula: b3-5-7-9-#11 Remaining notes: Eb, G, B, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no3) Omitted degrees: no3 Remaining formula: 1-5-7-9-#11 Remaining notes: C, G, B, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no5) Omitted degrees: no5 Remaining formula: 1-b3-7-9-#11 Remaining notes: C, Eb, B, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no7) Omitted degrees: no7 Remaining formula: 1-b3-5-9-#11 Remaining notes: C, Eb, G, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no1)(no3) Omitted degrees: no1, no3 Remaining formula: 5-7-9-#11 Remaining notes: G, B, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no1)(no5) Omitted degrees: no1, no5 Remaining formula: b3-7-9-#11 Remaining notes: Eb, B, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no1)(no7) Omitted degrees: no1, no7 Remaining formula: b3-5-9-#11 Remaining notes: Eb, G, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no3)(no5) Omitted degrees: no3, no5 Remaining formula: 1-7-9-#11 Remaining notes: C, B, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no3)(no7) Omitted degrees: no3, no7 Remaining formula: 1-5-9-#11 Remaining notes: C, G, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no5)(no7) Omitted degrees: no5, no7 Remaining formula: 1-b3-9-#11 Remaining notes: C, Eb, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no1)(no3)(no5) Omitted degrees: no1, no3, no5 Remaining formula: 7-9-#11 Remaining notes: B, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no1)(no3)(no7) Omitted degrees: no1, no3, no7 Remaining formula: 5-9-#11 Remaining notes: G, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no1)(no5)(no7) Omitted degrees: no1, no5, no7 Remaining formula: b3-9-#11 Remaining notes: Eb, D, F# C mMaj9#11(no3)(no5)(no7) Omitted degrees: no3, no5, no7 Remaining formula: 1-9-#11 Remaining notes: C, D, F#
      mM9#11

          C quartal

          Chord
          Quartal Stacked Fourths

              C sus2

              Chord
              Suspended Second sus2 sus2 chord

                  C sus2add4no5

                  Chord
                  sus2add4no5 sus2add4(no5)

                      C sus4

                      Chord
                      sus4 sus

                          C sus4#5

                          Chord
                          sus4#5 sus4+5

                              C sus4add13

                              Chord
                              Explore omission variants (2)
                              C sus4add13(no1) Omitted degrees: no1 Remaining formula: 4-5-13 Remaining notes: F, G, A C sus4add13(no5) Omitted degrees: no5 Remaining formula: 1-4-13 Remaining notes: C, F, A
                              sus4 add13 Suspended Fourth Add 13

                                  C sus4b9

                                  Chord
                                  Explore omission variants (6)
                                  C sus4b9(no1) Omitted degrees: no1 Remaining formula: 4-5-b7-b9 Remaining notes: F, G, Bb, Db C sus4b9(no5) Omitted degrees: no5 Remaining formula: 1-4-b7-b9 Remaining notes: C, F, Bb, Db C sus4b9(no7) Omitted degrees: no7 Remaining formula: 1-4-5-b9 Remaining notes: C, F, G, Db C sus4b9(no1)(no5) Omitted degrees: no1, no5 Remaining formula: 4-b7-b9 Remaining notes: F, Bb, Db C sus4b9(no1)(no7) Omitted degrees: no1, no7 Remaining formula: 4-5-b9 Remaining notes: F, G, Db C sus4b9(no5)(no7) Omitted degrees: no5, no7 Remaining formula: 1-4-b9 Remaining notes: C, F, Db
                                  sus4b9 sus(b9)

                                      C Altered Scale

                                      Scale
                                      Altered Super Locrian
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                                          Learn

                                          Learn chords and scales

                                          The complete catalog remains above. These links highlight triads, seventh chords, common scales, and essential modes because they support most analysis, accompaniment, composition, and improvisation work.

                                          Triads

                                          4
                                          Maj 1-3-5 m 1-b3-5 dim 1-b3-b5 aug 1-3-#5

                                          Seventh chords

                                          3
                                          7 1-3-5-b7 Maj7 1-3-5-7 m7 1-b3-5-b7

                                          Core scales

                                          5
                                          Major (Ionian) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Natural Minor (Aeolian) 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7 Major Pentatonic 1-2-3-5-6 Minor Pentatonic 1-b3-4-5-b7 Blues 1-b3-4-b5-5-b7

                                          Essential modes

                                          3
                                          Dorian 1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7 Mixolydian 1-2-3-4-5-6-b7 Lydian 1-2-3-#4-5-6-7

                                          Beginner

                                          C

                                          Connect intervals, major and minor triads, the major scale, and basic seventh chords.

                                          Maj 1-3-5 m 1-b3-5 Major (Ionian) 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Maj7 1-3-5-7

                                          Intermediate

                                          E

                                          Compare seventh chords, pentatonic and blues scales, and common modes in one stable key.

                                          7 1-3-5-b7 m7 1-b3-5-b7 Major Pentatonic 1-2-3-5-6 Minor Pentatonic 1-b3-4-5-b7 Blues 1-b3-4-b5-5-b7 Dorian 1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7 Mixolydian 1-2-3-4-5-6-b7

                                          Advanced

                                          A#

                                          Approach altered dominants, extensions, melodic minor colors, modal interchange, and voice leading without confusing color with function.

                                          7 1-3-5-b7 Lydian 1-2-3-#4-5-6-7 Mixolydian 1-2-3-4-5-6-b7
                                          Musical guide

                                          Understand chords, scales, and functions

                                          Formula

                                          A formula names degrees relative to a root. It describes an abstract structure, not one fixed instrumental shape.

                                          Context

                                          The same pitch collection can take another function depending on bass, progression, melody, and style.

                                          Transposition

                                          Transposition preserves interval distances: Cmaj7 and Fmaj7 share 1-3-5-7 at different pitch levels.

                                          Useful practice

                                          • Compare the formula, notes, and sound every time.
                                          • Work through triads, seventh chords, and core scales before altered variants.
                                          • Connect each scale to a harmonic function instead of memorizing mechanical compatibility.

                                          Chord

                                          C · Read the formula before you play

                                          A chord combines several tones as a harmonic structure. C major, C-E-G, is 1-3-5; C minor, C-Eb-G, is 1-b3-5.

                                          Scale and mode

                                          E · Read the formula before you play

                                          A scale orders a collection of degrees. C major is C-D-E-F-G-A-B; C Dorian is C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb. A mode also depends on tonal center and context.

                                          Chord-scale relationship

                                          G · Read the formula before you play

                                          Theoretical compatibility is not enough. Harmonic function, melody, style, and voice leading determine whether a scale really supports a chord.

                                          Reference examples in C

                                          C · Formulas

                                          These examples give a readable baseline for checking detailed pages, instrument views, and chord-scale relationships.

                                          Structure Notes Formula
                                          C major triad C-E-G 1-3-5
                                          C minor triad C-Eb-G 1-b3-5
                                          Cmaj7 C-E-G-B 1-3-5-7
                                          C major scale C-D-E-F-G-A-B 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
                                          C Dorian C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb 1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7

                                          Connect theory and practice