Major chords are the foundational building blocks for any guitarist. Alongside minor chords, they are typically the first chords beginners learn, forming the basis for a vast repertoire of songs and musical styles. Mastering major chords unlocks a world of musical possibilities and serves as a stepping stone to more complex chord variations.
Beyond these fundamental major chords, you’ll encounter categories like major seventh, major ninth, and major thirteenth chords, all of which are extensions and enrichments of the basic major chord structure.
Essential Major Chords for Guitarists
Let’s explore the most essential major chords every guitarist should know. These are presented with chord diagrams for easy learning:
C Major
Alt text: Diagram of a C Major chord for guitar, showing finger positions on the fretboard.
D Major
Alt text: Guitar chord diagram illustrating the D Major chord, a fundamental open chord.
E Major
Alt text: E Major guitar chord diagram, showcasing the common open position for this bright chord.
F Major
Alt text: Illustration of the F Major chord on guitar, a barre chord shape essential for expanding chord vocabulary.
G Major
Alt text: G Major chord diagram for guitar, displaying the standard open G Major fingering.
A Major
Alt text: Guitar chord chart for A Major, demonstrating the open A Major chord shape.
B Major
Alt text: B Major chord diagram on guitar, showing a common barre chord form for B Major.
Practice and Training with Major Chords
To solidify your understanding and playing of major chords, consistent practice is key. Utilize resources like Major chord exercises (PDF format) to develop muscle memory and smooth transitions between chords.
Furthermore, explore common chord progressions, especially the I-IV-V progression. This fundamental progression, presented in all keys with accompanying PDF resources, is built primarily with major chords and is the backbone of countless songs across genres.
Understanding Major Chord Names
You might see major chords written in slightly different ways. Often, simply using the letter name (like “C”, “D”, “E”) implies a major chord. In some contexts, you might see them written as “CM”, “DM”, “EM”, etc. It’s crucial to note that the uppercase “M” distinguishes major from minor chords (indicated by a lowercase “m”).
There are twelve distinct major chords in total, corresponding to the twelve pitches in Western music. However, due to the standard guitar tuning, certain major chords with sharp or flat root notes (like C#/Db, D#/Eb, F#/Gb, G#/Ab, and A#/Bb) can be less straightforward to play in open positions. These are frequently played as barre chords or with the aid of a capo to simplify fingerings.
The Delta Symbol for Major Chords
In older musical notations, and sometimes still today, the term “major” can be represented by the delta (triangle) symbol: Δ. When you see a chord name like “CΔ” (often with the triangle in superscript), it signifies a C major chord.
CΔ (C triangle) = C major
Major Chords with Sharps and Flats
Expanding your major chord vocabulary includes understanding and playing major chords built on sharp and flat root notes. These chords are equally important and add versatility to your playing.
C Sharp / D Flat Major
Alt text: Guitar chord diagram for C sharp major, also known as D flat major, showcasing a barre chord shape.
D Sharp / E Flat Major
Alt text: Diagram of a D sharp major chord, or E flat major, on guitar, illustrating a movable barre chord form.
F Sharp / G Flat Major
Alt text: F sharp major, equivalent to G flat major, guitar chord diagram, demonstrating a common barre chord position.
G Sharp / A Flat Major
Alt text: G sharp major or A flat major chord diagram for guitar, presenting a barre chord fingering.
A Sharp / B Flat Major
Alt text: A sharp major, also known as B flat major, guitar chord diagram, showing a typical barre chord shape.
The Theory Behind Major Chords
A fundamental major chord is a triad, meaning it consists of three distinct notes. While a guitar has six strings, some notes within the chord are often duplicated across different strings due to the instrument’s tuning and construction. For example, a G major chord often utilizes all six strings, while a D major chord might commonly be played using only four strings in its open position. This is because the bass note (root note) of the D chord, in that specific open position, isn’t readily available on the lowest two strings.
All major chords are derived from the major scale. For instance, C major, C major 7th, and related major chord variations are all based on the C major scale. While this article focuses on chords, exploring major scales can deepen your understanding of chord construction. Resources like GuitarScale.org offer comprehensive information on guitar scales.
Delve further into the world of chord relationships by exploring Chord progressions and how major chords function within them.
Notes Within Major Chords and Extensions
Major chords can be expanded beyond the basic triad to create richer and more complex sounds. Let’s examine the number of notes in different major chord types:
Number of Notes in Major Chords
- C (Major Triad): 3 notes
- Cmaj7 (Major Seventh): 4 notes
- Cmaj9 (Major Ninth): 5 notes
- Cmaj11 (Major Eleventh): 6 notes
- Cmaj13 (Major Thirteenth): 7 notes
Notes in Specific Major Chord Types
Here’s a breakdown of the notes that comprise various major chord types:
Major 7th Chords (Maj7)
- Cmaj7: C – E – G – B
- C#maj7: C# – F – G# – C
- Dmaj7: D – F# – A – C#
- D#maj7: D# – G – A# – D
- Emaj7: E – G# – B – D#
- Fmaj7: F – A – C – E
- F#maj7: F# – A# – C# – F
- Gmaj7: G – B – D – F#
- G#maj7: G# – C – D# – G
- Amaj7: A – C# – E – G#
- A#maj7: A# – D – F – A
- Bmaj7: B – D# – F# – A#
See diagrams for Major 7th Chords here
Major 9th Chords (Maj9)
- Cmaj9: C – E – G – B – D
- Dmaj9: D – F# – A – C# – E
- Emaj9: E – G# – B – D# – F#
- Fmaj9: F – A – C – E – G
- Gmaj9: G – B – D – F# – A
- Amaj9: A – C# – E – G# – B
- Bmaj9: B – D# – F# – A# – C#
Explore diagrams for Major 9th Chords
Major 11th Chords (Maj11)
- Cmaj11: C – E – G – B – D – F
- Dmaj11: D – F# – A – B – E – G
- Emaj11: E – G# – B – C# – F# – A
- Fmaj11: F – A – C – E – G – Bb
- Gmaj11: G – B – D – F# – A – C
- Amaj11: A – C# – E – G# – B – D
- Bmaj11: B – D# – F# – A# – C# – E
Major 13th Chords (Maj13)
- Cmaj13: C – E – G – B – D – A
- Dmaj13: D – F# – A – C# – E – B
- Emaj13: E – G# – B – D# – F# – A
- Fmaj13: F – A – C – E – G – B
- Gmaj13: G – B – D – F# – A – C
- Amaj13: A – C# – E – G# – B – D
- Bmaj13: B – D# – F# – A# – C# – E
View diagrams for Major 13th Chords
Expand Your Chord Knowledge
Alt text: Thumbnail image advertising The Chord Chart Poster, a helpful resource for guitar chords.
The journey of learning guitar chords is ongoing. Resources like The Chord Chart Poster (linked above) can be valuable tools for expanding your chord vocabulary and understanding.
Return to Chord Types to explore other chord categories and continue your musical development.
