How To Find All Of The Major and Minor Chords In Music

Gone are the days where musicians had to memorize all of the sharps and flats in every major and minor chord.

There are only two numbers that are used to find the notes in every major and minor triad:

43

To find the major chords, use the 43 number and split up both numbers to 4 and 3.

Start on a note — let’s say Middle C.

Count four half steps higher than Middle C starting on the next half step up from Middle C:

C#/Db-1……D-2…….D#/Eb-3……..E-4

Then count three half steps starting on the next half step up from ‘E’ to find the last note:

F-1…….F#/Gb-2……G-3

The C major chord is: C, E(4), G(3)

Another example: The F# Major chord

Start on F#, then count four half steps higher starting on the next half step up:

G-1….G#-2…..A-3……A#-4

Then count three half steps starting on the next half step up from ‘A#’.

B-1…..B#(or C)-2……C#-3

The F# major chord is: F#, A#(4), C#(3)

To find the minor chords, use the number 34 and split both numbers to 3 and 4.

To find the C minor chord, start with a ‘C’ note.

Count three half steps higher than ‘C’ starting on the next half step up.

C#/Db-1……D-2…….Eb-3

Then count four half steps higher starting on the next half step up from ‘Eb’:

E-1…….F-2…….F#/Gb-3……G-4

The C minor chord is: C, Eb(3), G(4)

Another example: The F# minor chord

Start on ‘F#,’ then count four half steps higher starting on the next half step up:

G-1….G#-2…..A-3

Then count three half steps starting on the next half step up from ‘A.’

A#/Bb-1….B-2…..B#(or C)-3……C#-4

The F# minor chord is: F#, A(3), C#(4)