The following 57 chords are available to the ModeExplorer user community. The chords are selected by the editors based on their utility, widespread use, and acceptance. The ModeExplorer supports these chords.
Note that in the illustrations, chord tonics are "C" and reside on the treble clef.
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| Major | ||
| ma | The major chord consists of a major third interval with a minor third interval above: the root, major third and fifth. |  |
| Major Sixth | ||
| 6 | The sixth chord is a major chord with the sixth added. There is no seventh. This is often used in place of dom7 or ma7 chords to produce ambiguity, opening opportunities for the player to interpret the 7th degree and select mixolydian (7), lydian (ma7(#11)), major (ma7) scales, and others. |  |
| Six Nine | ||
| 69 | A 'six nine' chord is a major chord with an added major sixth interval and an added ninth, but the seventh is omitted. |  |
| Add Nine (AKA "Two Chord") | ||
| (add 9) | The 'add nine' chord is a major chord with a ninth degree added, no seventh. However, it is sometimes called a 'two' chord as well. There is some agreement that a true 'two' chord is an 'add nine' chord with the 3rd omitted as well. | .jpg) |
| Major Seventh | ||
| ma7 | The major seventh chord consists of the root, major third, and a perfect fifth, and a major seventh. The major seventh chord is found at the first and fourth degrees of the major (Ionian) scale, and the third and sixth degrees of the minor (Aeolian) scale. Ionian mode is a good choice for improvising on a major seventh chord. However, much attention has been given to Lydian mode over a major seventh chord, implying the ma7(#11) chord (major seven raised eleven, major seven sharp eleven). |  |
| Major Seven Add Thirteenth | ||
| ma7(add 13) | This chord contains both a major seventh and a sixth interval, no ninth. | .jpg) |
| Major Nine | ||
| ma9 | A major seventh chord with the interval of a ninth added. |  |
| Major Thirteenth | ||
| ma13 | Like the major seven add thirteen, with the ninth present.
This is really all the notes of the major scale with the dissonant 11th degree omitted. The chord illustrates some of the reasoning behind the Lydian Chromatic Concept: If you play all the white keys on the piano within an octave from C to C, the ear tells us that the tonic is NOT C, but that the tonic is F. To remove this dissonance, the F is removed. See also the ma13(#11) chord. (Major Thirteen Augmented Eleven) |  |
| Seventh | ||
| 7 | The dominant seventh chord is a pivotal chord of most modern music. It consists of the root, major third, perfect fifth, and dominant seventh. The dominant seventh chord is found at the fifth degree of the major (Ionian) scale, and the seventh degree of the minor (Aeolian) scale. Mixolydian mode is a good choice for improvising on a dominant seventh chord, as well as blues scales (with a minor and major third). Altering the b9, #9, #11 or b13 of the dominant seventh chord yields wonderful passing chords; lowering any tone of Diminished Seventh chord a half step yields a Dominant Seventh chord. |  |
| Ninth | ||
| 9 | The ninth chord is a major chord with a ninth interval added, but unlike the 'two' chord, it has a dominant seventh interval. |  |
| Thirteenth | ||
| 13 | The thirteen chord is a sixth chord with minimally a dominant seventh interval added, and most often the ninth is also included. The eleventh is dissonant and rarely used, or is raised. See also the 13(#11) chord. (Thirteen Augmented Eleven) |  |
| Minor | ||
| mi | The minor chord consists of the root, minor third, and a perfect fifth. It is found at the first and fifth degrees of the minor (Aeolian) scale and the second and sixth degrees of the major (Ionian) scale. |  |
| Minor Sixth | ||
| mi6 | A minor chord with the interval of a sixth added. This chord occurs on the 2nd degree of the major scale (dorian), but is more often associated with the 1st and 2nd degrees of the Melodic Minor scale, or the 4th and 6th degrees of Harmonic Minor. |  |
| Minor Six Nine | ||
| mi69 | A minor sixth chord with the interval of a ninth added. |  |
| Minor Add Nine | ||
| mi(add 9) | A minor chord with the ninth (or major second) added, no seventh. | .jpg) |
| Minor Seventh | ||
| mi7 | The minor seventh chord consists of the root, minor third, and a perfect fifth, and a dominant seventh. The minor seventh chord is found at the second, third, and sixth degrees of the major (Ionian) scale, and the first, fourth and fifth degrees of the minor (Aeolian) scale. Dorian mode is a good choice for improvising on a minor seventh chord. |  |
| Minor Seventh Add Eleven | ||
| mi7(add 11) | A minor seventh chord with the eleventh (or fourth) added. | .jpg) |
| Minor Seventh Add Thirteen | ||
| mi7(add 13) | A minor seventh chord with the thirteenth (or sixth) added. | .jpg) |
| Minor Nine | ||
| mi9 | A minor seventh chord with the interval of a ninth (or major second) added. |  |
| Minor Eleven | ||
| mi11 | A minor seventh chord with the interval of a ninth (or major second) and eleventh (or fourth) added. |  |
| Minor Thirteen | ||
| mi13 | A minor seventh chord with the interval of a ninth (or major second) and thirteenth (or sixth) added. |  |
| Minor Raised Seven | ||
| mi(ma7) | This is a minor chord with a major seventh interval added. It occurs at the 1st degree of Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor, and therefore is a 'signature sound' for those scales. It is also found at the 6th degree of Harmonic Minor. | .jpg) |
| Minor Nine Raised Seven | ||
| mi9(ma7) | This is a minor nine chord with a major seventh interval added. | .jpg) |
| Minor Seven Flat Five | ||
| mi7(b5) | The minor seven flat five chord is also known as the "half diminished" chord. It consists of the root, minor third, and a flatted fifth, and a dominant seventh. The minor seven flat five chord is found at the seventh degree of the major (Ionian) scale, and the second degree of the minor (Aeolian) scale. The minor seven flat five chord is built from the root of Locrian mode. By the same token, this chord is powerful as the ii of a ii-vi-I or ii-vi-I passage. | .jpg) |
| Minor Nine Flat Five | ||
| mi9(b5) | This is a minor nine chord with the five lowered a half step. | .jpg) |
| Minor Eleven Flat Five | ||
| mi11(b5) | This is a minor eleven chord with the five lowered a half step. | .jpg) |
| Diminished | ||
| dim. | The diminished chord is built entirely of minor thirds: It consists of the root, minor third, and a flatted fifth. It is often extended as a diminished seventh chord, which adds another minor third at the top, yielding an interval of a sixth from the root. |  |
| Diminished Seventh | ||
| o7 | The Dimished Seventh chord consists of three minor third intervals, yielding the root, minor third, flat five, and sixth. This chord is useful for transitioning between other chords. It is particularly interesting because lowering any tone of Diminished Seventh chord a half step yields a Dominant Seventh chord. |  |
| Diminished Seventh Add Raised Seven | ||
| o7(add ma7) | The diminished seventh chord with an added major seven interval. | .jpg) |
| Augmented | ||
| + | This chord consists of two major third intervals. |  |
| Suspended | ||
| sus | The sus chord consists of the root, a fourth (no third), and a fifth. |  |
| Seven Suspended | ||
| 7sus | The same as a seventh chord with the third omitted and the fourth added. |  |
| Nine Suspended | ||
| 9sus | The same as a nine chord with the third omitted and the fourth added. AKA an eleventh chord. |  |
| Thirteen Suspended | ||
| 13sus | The same as a thirteen chord with the third omitted and the fourth added. |  |
| Major Seven Flat Five | ||
| ma7(b5) | Closely related to the ma7(#11) chord, only omitting the perfect fifth. | .jpg) |
| Major Seven Sharp Five | ||
| ma7(#5) | Notably a product of Harmonic Minor harmony and Melodic Minor harmony. In Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor, occurs on the 3rd degree of the scales. | .jpg) |
| Major Seven Augmented Eleven | ||
| ma7(#11) | Closely related to the ma7(b5) chord, only adding the perfect fifth. | .jpg) |
| Major Nine Augmented Eleven | ||
| ma9(#11) | Occurs on the 4th degree of the Major scale, making it a "Lydian" chord. | .jpg) |
| Major Thirteen Augmented Eleven | ||
| ma13(#11) | Like the Major Thirteen chord (ma13) with the 11th degree added and raised.
This is really all the notes of the major scale with the dissonant 11th degree raised. The chord illustrates some of the reasoning behind the Lydian Chromatic Concept: If you play all the white keys on the piano simultaneously within an octave from C to C, the ear tells us that the tonic is NOT C, but that the tonic is F. To remove this dissonance and strengthen the C as the tonic, the F is sharped, yielding Lydian mode. See also the ma13 chord. (Major Thirteen) | .jpg) |
| Seven Flat Five | ||
| 7(b5) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony, occurring at the 5th and 7th degrees of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Nine Flat Five | ||
| 9(b5) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony, occurring at the 5th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Sharp Five | ||
| 7(#5) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony and Harmonic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 5th degree of the Harmonic Minor scale. Occurs at the 5th and 7th degrees of the Melodic Minor scale. Occurs at the | .jpg) |
| Nine Sharp Five | ||
| 9(#5) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony, occurring at the 5th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Flat Nine | ||
| 7(b9) | Participates in Harmonic Minor harmony, occurring at the 5th degree of the Harmonic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Sharp Nine | ||
| 7(#9) | Occurs in some Symmetric scales and some more exotic scales such as Harmonic Major, Hungarian Minor, and Hungarian Major. | .jpg) |
| Seven Flat Five Flat Nine | ||
| 7(b5b9) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 7th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Sharp Five Sharp Nine | ||
| 7(#5#9) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 7th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Sharp Five Flat Nine | ||
| 7(#5b9) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 7th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Augmented Eleven | ||
| 7(#11) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 4th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Nine Augmented Eleven | ||
| 9(#11) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 4th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Flat Nine Augmented Eleven | ||
| 7(b9#11) | Occurs in some Symmetric scales. | .jpg) |
| Seven Sharp Nine Augmented Eleven | ||
| 7(#9#11) | Occurs in some Symmetric scales and various exotics. | .jpg) |
| Thirteen Flat Five | ||
| 13(b5) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 4th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Thirteen Flat Nine | ||
| 13(b9) | Occurs in the Symmetric scale (half-whole-half) and the Diminished scale (whole-half-whole). | .jpg) |
| Thirteen Augmented Eleven | ||
| 13(#11) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 4th degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Seven Suspended Flat Nine | ||
| 7sus(b9) | Found in Diatonic, Harmonic Minor and Melodic Minor harmony. It is found on the 3rd degree of the Major Scale. It occurs on the 5th degree of the Harmonic Minor scale, and the 2nd degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |
| Thirteen Suspended Flat Nine | ||
| 13sus(b9) | Participates in Melodic Minor harmony. Occurs at the 2nd degree of the Melodic Minor scale. | .jpg) |