Chord construction on the fretboard involves understanding how intervals combine to form chords and how these shapes are played across the strings and frets. By mastering this, guitarists can build, modify, and transpose chords anywhere on the neck.
- Chords are made of stacked intervals (3rds, 5ths, etc.) arranged as notes on the strings.
- Common chord shapes repeat in patterns; knowing the theory behind them allows for flexibility.
- Understanding construction aids in creating major, minor, dominant, and extended chords directly on the fretboard.
Source Material
Author: Guitar World
Document: Understanding Chord Construction on the Guitar Fretboard
Date Published: 2023
How Chords Are Built on the Fretboard
A chord is built by stacking specific intervals from a root note: a major chord uses the root, major third, and perfect fifth; a minor chord swaps the major third for a minor third. On the fretboard, these intervals become patterns of notes spaced across strings and frets.
- The root is the chord’s foundation; other notes are intervals above it.
- Major chords: root + major 3rd (+4 frets on one string) + perfect 5th (+3 frets from 3rd, skipping a string).
- Minor chords: root + minor 3rd (+3 frets from root) + perfect 5th.
- Recognizing interval patterns lets you build or alter chords anywhere on the neck.
Source Material
Author: musictheory.net
Document: How Guitar Chords Are Built: A Fretboard Approach
Date Published: 2024
Major and Minor Triads
Triads are three-note chords: major triads have a “happy” sound, minor triads sound “sad.” On the fretboard, triads appear as movable shapes defined by interval distances, not just specific notes.
| Chord Type | Intervals | Example: C Major Triad (Notes) | Example: C Minor Triad (Notes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Triad | Root, Major 3rd, 5th | C (Root), E (3rd), G (5th) | — |
| Minor Triad | Root, Minor 3rd, 5th | — | C (Root), E♭ (3rd), G (5th) |
- Major triad intervals from root: 0 frets, +4 frets, +3 frets (across strings)
- Minor triad intervals from root: 0 frets, +3 frets, +3 frets (across strings)
Source Material
Author: Fender
Document: Guitar Triads: Building Major and Minor Chords
Date Published: 2024
Extended Chords and Their Fretboard Patterns
Beyond triads, chords can include 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths. These extended chords add color and complexity. Each extension is an additional interval stacked above the basic triad.
- 7th chords: Add a 7th interval (minor 7th = 10 frets from root; major 7th = 11 frets).
- 9th chords: Add a 9th (2 frets above the octave).
- 11th and 13th chords: Add even higher intervals; often played as partial shapes.
Knowing intervals allows you to spot or build these chords anywhere on the fretboard.
Source Material
Author: Jazz Guitar Online
Document: Extended Chords Explained: 7th, 9th, 11th & 13th
Date Published: 2023
Common Barre Chord Shapes
Barre chords use a single finger to press multiple strings, allowing chord shapes to move up and down the neck. The most common shapes are derived from open major and minor chords.
- E-shape barre chord: Root on 6th string; major/minor triad finger pattern along frets.
- A-shape barre chord: Root on 5th string; triad frets/muted strings create major/minor shape.
- Moving these shapes changes the chord, thanks to the movable “fretboard formula.”
Conclusion
Chord construction on the guitar fretboard is about recognizing and applying interval patterns in note shapes. This understanding transforms static chord diagrams into a versatile system for creating and modifying chords anywhere.
- Chords are built from stacked intervals: root, 3rd, 5th (plus extensions).
- Triads and barre chords use movable shapes tied to these intervals.
- Mastery of fretboard construction unlocks all styles and keys.
Root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th form a major triad.
A minor triad uses the root, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th.
You can build, modify, and transpose chords anywhere on the neck.
Barre chords use a single finger to press multiple strings, are movable, and common shapes are based on open chord patterns.
The minor 7th is added to a triad to form a dominant 7th chord.