Reading chord symbols
Goal: read a chord chart without hesitating. Cm7, Csus4, C/E, Cmaj9: click a card and choose the right chord from three.
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Question 1
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Type the key on your keyboard. This mode only offers single-key shortcuts.
Session score: 0 correct answer(s) out of 0
Understand it all, in three questions.
What are chord symbols?
It’s the notation used in pop, rock and jazz charts: a letter for the root (C, D… B), then symbols for the colour of the chord (m, 7, maj7, sus4, dim…). Every example in the game starts on C so you can compare the colours.
How does the game work?
Click a card: three answers appear, only one is right. The card then flips over with the explanation and, when there is one, the glossary entry. With a free account, every answer is saved in My Arena : you’ll find your progress across all the games.
Where should I start?
Start with “Triads”, then “Sevenths”: these are the chords in 90% of charts. Extended chords and slash chords come next.
Où voir toutes les cartes en un seul tableau ?
All the cards in the game, sorted by family. The game’s search, above, also filters this list.
| Symbol | Chord and notes | Family |
|---|---|---|
| C | C major: C, E, G A letter on its own means a major chord. In French solfège: C = Do, D = Ré, E = Mi… up to B = Si. | Triads |
| Cm | C minor: C, E♭, G A lower-case “m” means minor. | Triads |
| Am | A minor: A, C, E The relative minor of C major. | Triads |
| G | G major: G, B, D G = Sol in French solfège. | Triads |
| F | F major: F, A, C F = Fa in French solfège. | Triads |
| Bb | B-flat major: B♭, D, F The “b” after the letter means flat. | Triads |
| F#m | F-sharp minor: F♯, A, C♯ The “#” means sharp. | Triads |
| Cdim | C diminished: C, E♭, G♭ Two minor thirds. Also written C°. | Triads |
| Caug | C augmented: C, E, G♯ Two major thirds. Also written C+. | Triads |
| Csus4 | C suspended 4: C, F, G The fourth replaces the third. | Triads |
| Csus2 | C suspended 2: C, D, G The second replaces the third. | Triads |
| C7 | C seventh: C, E, G, B♭ The dominant seventh: a major chord with a minor seventh. | Sevenths |
| Cmaj7 | C major seventh: C, E, G, B A major seventh, soft and jazzy. | Sevenths |
| Cm7 | C minor seventh: C, E♭, G, B♭ A minor chord with a minor seventh. | Sevenths |
| Cm7b5 | C half-diminished: C, E♭, G♭, B♭ Also written Cø. The chord on degree II in a minor key. | Sevenths |
| Cdim7 | C diminished seventh: C, E♭, G♭, B♭♭ (A) Three minor thirds stacked up. Also written C°7. | Sevenths |
| CmMaj7 | C minor-major seventh: C, E♭, G, B A minor chord with a major seventh, very cinematic. | Sevenths |
| G7 | G seventh: G, B, D, F The dominant of C major. | Sevenths |
| C6 | C sixth: C, E, G, A A major chord with an added sixth. | Extended chords |
| Cm6 | C minor sixth: C, E♭, G, A A minor chord with a major sixth. | Extended chords |
| Cadd9 | C add 9: C, E, G, D The added ninth, without the seventh. | Extended chords |
| C9 | C ninth: C, E, G, B♭, D A dominant seventh with the ninth. | Extended chords |
| Cmaj9 | C major ninth: C, E, G, B, D A major seventh with the ninth. | Extended chords |
| C7sus4 | C seventh suspended 4: C, F, G, B♭ A dominant seventh with no third, with the fourth instead. | Extended chords |
| C7b9 | C seventh flat nine: C, E, G, B♭, D♭ A tense dominant, common in jazz and in minor keys. | Extended chords |
| C/E | C major with E in the bass The note after the slash is the bass note: here, the 1st inversion. | Other notations |
| C/G | C major with G in the bass The 2nd inversion of C major. | Other notations |
| D/C | D major with C in the bass A bass note outside the chord: C doesn’t belong to D major. | Other notations |
| C5 | C five: C and G only The power chord of rock guitar, with no third. | Other notations |
| N.C. | No chord For “No Chord”: the harmony instruments stop playing. | Other notations |
Want to play any chord chart?
Reading chord charts, chords and piano composition are on the programme of the professional course “Harmonie et composition au piano en Home Studio” (in French): 70 hours with a trainer, in person in Grenoble or live online, eligible for funding from AFDAS (the French arts training fund) and France Travail.
Discover the harmony course (in French) Chords on a keyboard → Chord charts →