Chord Notes
Find the notes in any musical chord instantly. Free online chord notes calculator for musicians, songwriters, and music students — supports major, minor, seventh, sixth, suspended, and ninth chords.
About This Calculator
The Chord Notes Calculator helps musicians, songwriters, and music students quickly find the notes that make up any chord. Simply select a root note and chord type to see all constituent notes, interval names, and a visual chart showing the distance of each note from the root in semitones.
Understanding chord structure is fundamental to music theory. Every chord is built from intervals — specific distances measured in semitones from the root note. A Major chord uses intervals 0-4-7 (Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th), while a Minor chord uses 0-3-7 (Root, Minor 3rd, Perfect 5th). Seventh chords add a fourth note, and extended chords like Add9 include the 2nd scale degree.
This calculator supports 19 chord types including major, minor, diminished, augmented, suspended (sus2 and sus4), seventh chords (dominant 7th, major 7th, minor 7th, diminished 7th, half-diminished 7th), sixth chords, and power chords. The interval chart visually maps each note's position relative to the root, making it easy to see the chord's internal structure at a glance.
Whether you are learning music theory, composing a song, or arranging chords for guitar or piano, this tool provides instant reference for any chord's note spelling and interval relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in a C major chord?
A C major chord contains the notes C, E, and G. The intervals are Root, Major 3rd (4 semitones), and Perfect 5th (7 semitones).
What is the difference between major and minor chords?
Major chords have a Major 3rd interval (4 semitones) while minor chords have a minor 3rd interval (3 semitones). This gives major chords a bright, happy sound and minor chords a darker, sadder sound.
How many notes are in a seventh chord?
Seventh chords have four notes: the root, third, fifth, and seventh. For example, a C dominant 7th chord contains C, E, G, and B♭.
What is a power chord?
A power chord contains only two notes: the root and the perfect fifth (7 semitones above). It has no third, making it neither major nor minor. Power chords are commonly used in rock, punk, and metal music.
What are diminished and augmented chords?
A diminished chord has a minor 3rd and a diminished 5th (intervals 0-3-6). An augmented chord has a major 3rd and an augmented 5th (intervals 0-4-8). Diminished chords sound tense and unstable, while augmented chords sound dreamy and ambiguous.
How do suspended chords differ from major and minor chords?
Suspended chords replace the third with either the 2nd (sus2) or 4th (sus4). Sus2 chords use intervals 0-2-7 (root-2nd-5th) and sus4 chords use intervals 0-5-7 (root-4th-5th). They lack the major/minor quality and create an open, floating sound.
Can I use this chord notes calculator for songwriting?
Yes, this chord notes calculator is perfect for songwriting and music composition. Quickly look up any chord's notes and intervals to experiment with different chord voicings, build progressions, and find the right sound for your song.