Chord symbol - Definition and Overview

In music a chord symbol is an abbreviated notation for chord names and qualities, using letters, numbers, and other symbols. It is usually written above the given lyrics or staff, if any.

While there are consistent systems of applying chord symbols, different systems are used and may be used by the same person.

Roman numerals may be used to indicate the scale degree upon which the chord is built. Letters may be used to indicate the note upon which the chord is built, with some people use a small and large letter to indicate minor and major, respectively. Other abbreviations are also used to indicate the quality of the chord.

The Roman numerals can be followed by figured bass notation to indicate inversions - the resulting system is sometimes called figured roman. For instance, a first inversion chord would have the designation 6/3 since there is a note a sixth (the root) and a third (the fifth) above the bass note (the third). Common practice shortens this to just the 6 since it is the characteristic interval of the inversion and always implies 6/3.

For a I chord in C major, the various systems look like thus

The chord symbols for seventh chords can be found at that article.

Inversions and figured bass

See: inversion (music), and figured bass