Chord Calculator — Build Chords from Root Note

Chords are built by stacking intervals on top of a root note. A major chord uses the root, major third (4 semitones) and perfect fifth (7 semitones). A minor chord uses root, minor third (3 semitones) and perfect fifth (7 semitones).

A seventh chord adds a fourth note — the seventh interval — on top of a triad. Major 7th adds the note 11 semitones above the root, dominant 7th adds 10 semitones, and minor 7th adds 10 semitones on top of a minor triad.

Suspended chords replace the third with either the second (sus2) or fourth (sus4) scale degree. They sound neither major nor minor and create tension that typically resolves to a major or minor chord.