American chord notation
Grados writes every note and chord in American notation: each note is a letter from A to G, and each chord is its letter plus a symbol. This page explains how to read it.
Notes are letters
The seven natural notes are A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The major scale with no accidentals starts on C and runs C D E F G A B. A sharp (♯) raises a note by a semitone and a flat (♭) lowers it by a semitone: F♯ is F raised, B♭ is B lowered. B is always the natural note and B♭ the flattened one.
Chord symbols
A chord is named by its root letter plus a symbol for its quality. In Mulholland and Hojnacki’s book the minor chord is written with a dash (D-7) and here with an m (Dm7); it is the same chord.
| Symbol | Name | Notes on C |
|---|---|---|
| CMaj7 | Major seventh | C E G B |
| Cm7 | Minor seventh | C E♭ G B♭ |
| C7 | Dominant seventh | C E G B♭ |
| Cø | Half-diminished | C E♭ G♭ B♭ |
| C°7 | Diminished seventh | C E♭ G♭ B♭♭ |
| C7sus4 | Dominant seventh suspended fourth | C F G B♭ |
Degree notation
The degrees of the scale are numbered with Roman numerals and carry the seventh chord that belongs to them: IMaj7, II-7, III-7, IVMaj7, V7, VI-7 and VII-7b5. The pattern is the same in every key; only the letters change. The table shows the same series in C and in G.
| Degree | Degree notation | In C | In G |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | IMaj7 | CMaj7 | GMaj7 |
| II | II-7 | Dm7 | Am7 |
| III | III-7 | Em7 | Bm7 |
| IV | IVMaj7 | FMaj7 | CMaj7 |
| V | V7 | G7 | D7 |
| VI | VI-7 | Am7 | Em7 |
| VII | VII-7b5 | Bø | F♯ø |
Tensions and alterations
Tensions are written with the number of the compound interval: 9, 11 and 13. A flat or sharp in front alters them: b9, #9, #11, b13. So C7(b9) is the dominant on C with the flat ninth (D♭), and CMaj7(#11) is the major chord with the augmented eleventh (F♯).
Frequently asked questions
Which letter is each note?
The natural notes are A, B, C, D, E, F and G. The major scale with no accidentals is C D E F G A B.
What do Maj7, m7 and ø mean?
Maj7 is the major chord with a major seventh, m7 is the minor chord with a minor seventh and ø is half-diminished (minor with a flat fifth). A plain 7 is the dominant.
What is degree notation?
It names the chord by the scale degree in Roman numerals (II-7, V7…), so it works in any key.
Based on the jazz harmony principles of Joe Mulholland and Tom Hojnacki (Berklee Press).
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