Chord construction wheel

© Ian Chadwick, 2014-2018

www.ianchadwick.com
not for sale or use in any commercial product or package.

P I MP
Nm

VI
I
din
g to
ne
Do Tonic/Root
Turn center wheel to
this number
D
bII
Le
a Au i m 1
Ti
g1 -b
-3 3 -
b
-# 5
Nm P

Su 5
M

Su s2

PRe
s4 1-
1-4 2-5
Min -5
Do m 7 1
b
bVII

II/I
M 7 -3

Su
b
Min aj7 11-3 -5-
b

pe
Ma or 1 -3- -5- 7
b
9

rto
jor - 5- 7
-7-

X
1- 3-5 7
C

nic
-5

C /#
3-
1- 3

5
B Db

Nm
j9
Ma

Rela
tive m
b
A #/B

inor k
ey
Triads:
VI/XIII

D
Maj: 1-3-5 Aug: 1-3-#5
Submediant
bbVII

Min: 1-b3-5 Sus2: 1-2-5

bIII
Dim: 1-b3-b5 Sus4: 1-4-5 D#/Eb
A

Seventh:
# b

7th: 1-3-5-b7
G /A

Maj7: 1-3-5-7
La

Nm
-5-6

MP
Min7: 1-b3-5-b7
P

-6-9
-3-5 5-6
Nm

7sus: 1-4-5-b7
1-3
b b

Mi
G F
-

P
j 6/ 1- 3

F#/Gb
j
Ma
1
VI
M m7
9
b
Di

M
a

e
/

III
dia
BV

nt

m Fa
N P
M nt
Su
IVbd
na om
mi
V Do
/X ina

Sol Nm I nt

P bV MP
 Chord Formulas
( ) = OPTIONAL/UNPLAYED NOTE

MAJOR MINOR
Major 1-3-5 Minor 1-b3-5
Added 4th 1-3-4-5 Minor added 4th 1-b3-4-5
Added 9th 1-3-5-9 Minor 6th 1-b3-5-6
6th 1-3-5-6 Minor 7th 1-b3-5-b7
6 add 9 1-3-5-6-9 Minor added 9th 1-b3-5-9
9th 1-3-5-b7-9 Minor 6 add 9 1-b3-5-6-9
Relative/natural minor scale: W H W W H W W (from 6th)

Major 7th 1-3-5-7 Minor 9th 1-b3-5-b7-9

Major 9th 1-3-5-7-9 Minor 11th 1-b3-5-b7-(9)-11
Major 11th 1-3-5-7- (9)-11 Minor 13th 1-b3-5-b7-(9)-(11)-13
W= whole step (2 frets) H = half step (1 fret)

Major 13th 1-3-5-7-(9)-(11)-13 Minor/Major 7th 1-b3-5-7

Major 7 #11th 1-3-5-7- #11 Minor/Major 9th 1-b3-5-7-9
Major scale: W W H W W W H

Minor/Major 11th 1-b3-5-7-(9)-11

DOMINANT Minor/Major 13th 1-b3-5-7-(9)-(11)-13
7th 1-3-5-b7 Minor 7th flat 5th 1-b3-b5-b7
9th 1-3-5-b7-9
STEPS:

11th 1-(3)-5-b7-(9)-11
13th 1-3-5-b7-(9)-(11)-13
maj 7#5 1-3-#5-b7

9sus
9th
NINTH
maj 7b5 1-3-b5-7 MISC
7b5 1-3-b5-b7 Dim 1-b3-b5
7b9 1-3-5-b7-b9 Dim 7th 1-b3-b5-bb7
Aug 1-3-#5

1-4-5-b7-9
1-3-5-b7-9
7#9 1-3-5-b7-#9
9#5 1-3-#5-b7-9 5th (”power”) 1-5
9b5 1-3-b5-b7-9 Flat 5th 1-b5
7#5#9 1-3-#5-b7-#9 Suspended 4th 1-4-5
7#5b9 1-3-#5-b7-b9 Suspended 2nd 1-2(9)-5
7b5#9 1-3-b5-b7-#9 Sharp 11 1-5-#11
7b5b9 1-3-b5-b7-b9 bb= two flats (i.e. bb7 = sixth)

Chords of major scale: Chords of harmonic minor scale:

I ii iii IV V vi vii° I ii° III+ iv V VI nvii°
Chords of natural minor scale: Chords of melodic minor scale:
I ii° III iv v VI VII I ii III+ IV V nvi° nvii°
Major: I, II, II etc. Minor: i, ii, iii, etc. Diminished: ° Augmented: +

P = pentatonic: 1-2-3-5-6-8 MP = minor pentatonic: 1-b3-4-5-b7-8

Do, re, me, etc.: solfege: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 Rm = Rel minor: 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-b7-8
Harmonic minor: 1-2-b3-4-5-b6-7-8
Chord construction wheel
© Ian Chadwick, 2014-2018
www.ianchadwick.com

Instructions:
Print these pages on 28lb paper or index stock.
Print page 2 on the back of page 1 so they are centred.
Laminate all pages for greater durability.
Cut out the larger wheel from one page (the one with the table on the
reverse, if you printed it). Cut out the smaller wheel from page 3.
Punch a hole in the centre of both wheels, put the smaller wheel on top of
the larger one, insert a round head paper fastener and use!
 B
C C /#
Db

b
A #/B
Triads:

D
Maj: 1-3-5 Aug: 1-3-#5
Min: 1-b3-5 Sus2: 1-2-5
Dim: 1-b3-b5 Sus4: 1-4-5

D#/Eb
A
Seventh:
7th: 1-3-5-b7
# Ab

Maj7: 1-3-5-7
G/

E
Min7: 1-b3-5-b7
7sus: 1-4-5-b7
G F
F#/Gb

Chord construction wheel

© Ian Chadwick, 2014-18
www.ianchadwick.com

B
C C /#
Db
b
A #/B

Triads:
D

Maj: 1-3-5 Aug: 1-3-#5

Min: 1-b3-5 Sus2: 1-2-5
Dim: 1-b3-b5 Sus4: 1-4-5
D#/Eb
A

Seventh:
7th: 1-3-5-b7
# Ab

Maj7: 1-3-5-7
G/

Min7: 1-b3-5-b7
7sus: 1-4-5-b7
G F
F#/Gb
Instructions:
Print these pages on card stock or heavy paper (28lb). For better
durability, laminate all pages before cutting.

Cut out the larger (outside) wheel from the image on page 1 or any of
the complete wheels on the first three pages. If you wish the formulae
included on the back, print pages one and two back to back on one
sheet.

Cut a smaller (inner) wheel from those on page 3.

Trim the cut wheels.

Punch a hole in the centre of each, insert a round head paper fastener
and use!

Align the desired key on the inner wheel with the “I” or tonic (root) on
the outer wheel. Follow the coloured lines to find the note (indicated by
a dot) for any identified chord (i.e. C major - red line - is 1-3-5 or C-E-G).
The first note will always be the root note. The outside wheel also
contains various elements of musical theory.