Chords with Color

Making Normal Chords More Colorful

An Interchangeable Chord Options Chart

for Creative Guitarists

by Jared Borkowski

soundguitarlessons.com
Contents
• How to Use This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
• Interchangeable Chord Options in the key of C Major (& A Minor). . . 3-4
• Interchangeable Chord Options in the key of A Major (& F# Minor). . 5-6
• Interchangeable Chord Options in the key of G Major (& E Minor). . . 7-8
• Interchangeable Chord Options in the key of E Major (& C# Minor). . 9-10
• Interchangeable Chord Options in the key of D Major (& B Minor). . .11-12
• Bonus Page: 20 Common Chord Progressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
• Final Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
 How to Use This Guide
Important! Read This First!
Purpose of The Guide
This booklet gives you interesting, rich, and colorful sounding chord options that are interchangeable and
can replace any given chord that you want to explore alternatives for.
Alternate chords can prove especially useful for songwriting, arranging cover songs to sound unique,
studying chord-tone theory, harmonic ear training, fretboard mapping, and even just technique practice.
This is not a typical chord book. The chord diagrams that follow are not just different voicings of the ex-
act same chord—they are unique chord quality types that add color in various ways but don’t interefere
with tonality or harmonic function (which is why they are interchangeable).

How to Use the Charts

You’ll see a column for each chord number in a key (I, ii, iii, etc...). Chords in the same column are the
options that are interchangeable with each other.
Let’s say you’re in the key of ‘A’, and you’re tired of playing that same old ‘D’ major triad chord shape:
1. Go to the Key of ‘A’ Major section (pages 5-6)
2. Determine what chord number ‘D’ is in the key of ‘A’ (it’s IV)
3. Find the ‘IV’ column
4. Replace the standard ‘D’ triad chord with any of the other eight chord options in that column. (They
are all still IV chords in the key and will function in any song just as well as the original chord).
I’m not proposing that you need to learn every chord, so don’t let the options overwhelm you. This guide
is meant to be used as a source to find colorful chord alternatives when feeling “blah” about specific
chords, not to be taken in as a whole. Some chords you’ll like, some you won’t. Some will be easy to
play, some will be harder. If you discover even one new sound from this resource, then we’ve both suc-
ceeded!
That being said, you certainly can switch between any of the chord shapes within one key section and
they will all sound good together. This use of the chord charts below could result in some very cool and
sophisticated sounding chord progressions.
Note that the numbers inside the fretboard dots are chord-tone numbers based on their distance from
the root of the chord (they are not finger numbers). Use these to explore the chord theory if desired. A
greyed-out dot means that it’s optional—including it or not doesn’t change the chord quality.

Explanation of Harmonic “Color”

Chord extensions are chord tones that are non-essential but add harmonic color such as ‘9’, ‘11’, and
‘13’. These are additional tones from the same scale as the chord. They are also called “color tones”.

Blank Diagrams
Some extensions interfere with the harmonic function of certain chords. Therefore they wouldn’t be total-
ly interchangeable if included. You’ll see an empty space labeled “n/a” where this is the case.

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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 2
 Key of C Major (& A Minor)

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

C Dm Em F G Am Bº
x 5 3 x x R R b
3 5 R 3 5 R 3 x R 5 x R x
R b
3 R 5 R b
3

Triad 3 5 5 R 3 3 5 R R

R 5 R 5 R R 5 R b
5 b
3

C sus2 D sus2 n/a F sus2/C G sus2 A sus2 n/a

x 2 5 x x R 2 x x 2 x 5 x R 2 5

R 5 R

sus2 5 2 5 R

R 2 5 R 5 R R 5 R

C sus4 D sus4 E sus4 n/a G sus4 A sus4 n/a

x 5 x x R R 5 R 5 R x R 5

R 4

sus4 5 5 R 4 5 R

R 4 5 R 4 R 4 R 4

C add9 Dm add9 / F n/a F add9 G add9 Am add9 n/a

x 5 3 x x 9 x x x 5 3 x R 5

5 b
3

add9 3 5 3 3 9 5

R 9 5 b
3 R R 9 R R

C maj6 Dmin6 n/a F maj6 G maj6 n/a n/a

x 3 x x R 6 x x 5 R 3 6

R b
3 R

6 3 6 5 3 3

R R 6 R 5

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI VII
b
i iiº

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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 3

 Key of C Major (& A Minor) [continued]

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

C maj7 D min7 Emin7 F maj7 G7 A min7 Bø

x 5 7 3 x x R R b
3 R x x 3 7 R 3 x R b
7 5 x R x
b
7 b
3 5 b
3

7 3 5 5 R 3 3 5 R b
7

R 5 b
7 b
3 R R b
7 R b
5 b
3

C maj9 D min9 n/a F maj9 G9 A min9 n/a

x 3 x 9 x 7 x 3 x R

b
3 3
3rd
b

9 3
7th 3 9 5

R 9 R b
7 9 R 9 R b
7 R b
7

7 7 9

C 6/9 Dm 6/9 n/a F 6/9 G 6/9 n/a n/a

x 3 x 9 x x x 5 3 6

3rd b
3

6/9 3 6 6 3 9

R 9 5 R 9 R 6 9 R

n/a D min11 E min11 F maj7 (#11) n/a A min11 Bø (add11)

x x R 11 R 11
#
7 x R 5 x 11

b
7 b
3 R

11 5 R 11 3 3rd 11 R b
7

b
7 b
3 5 R b
5 b
3

b
7 b
3

C maj13 n/a n/a F maj13 G13 n/a n/a

x 7 x x 7 x 3 13

13 3 13 3 9

R 5 R 13 R b
7

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI b
VII i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 4

 Key of A Major (& F# Minor)

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

A Bm C#m D E F#m G#º

x R 5 x x x x R
3 R 5 R xR b
5

Triad 5 R 3 R 5 4th R 5 5 3 5 R R b
3 5 R

b
3 b
3 R b
5

5 R 5 R 5 R R b
3 R

A sus2 B sus2 n/a D sus2 E sus2 F# sus2 n/a

x R 2 5 x x x R 2 R 5 R x x

4th R 2

sus2 5 R R 2 5 5 5

R 5

5 R 2 5 R

A sus4 B sus4 C# sus4 n/a E sus4 F# sus4 n/a

x R 5 x R 4 x R 5 R x x
4th R 4 5

sus4 5 R R 5 R 4 5 R

4 R

5 R 4 R 4

A add9 Bm add9 / D n/a Dadd9/A E add9 F#m add9 n/a

x R 5 x x b
3 x 5 9 R 5
x x
3

add9 5 5 5 5 9 3 5
b
3 9 R

9 R 3 R 9

A maj6 Bmin6 n/a D maj6 E maj6 n/a n/a

x R x b
3 R x x R 6 R R

6 3

6 5 R 3 6 R 5 5 3 5 R 6

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI VII
b
i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 5

 Key of A Major (& F# Minor) [continued]

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

A maj7 B min7 C#min7 D maj7 E7 F# min7 G#ø

x R 5 x b
3 R x b
7 b
3 x x R
3 R R x R b
5 b
3

7 3 R

7 3 R 7
4th R
b
5 5 R 5 7 3 5 R b
7 b
3 5 R b
7

b
7

5 R 5

A maj9 B min9 n/a D maj9 E9 F# min9 n/a

x R x b
3 x 9 x x x R

9 5 3 R b
7 9 5
4th 3 R 9 R b
7 b
3 5

R 9 b
7

9 7 7 5 9

A 6/9 Bm 6/9 n/a D 6/9 E 6/9 n/a n/a

x R 5 x b
3 x x 6 9 x x
6
2nd 5 3

6/9 R 6 9
3 R 9 5

6 9 R

n/a B min11 C#min11 D maj7 (#11) n/a F# min11 G#ø(add11)/B

x b
3 11 x b
7 b
3 xx R b
3 11 b
7 x b
5

5 11
#
R

11 7 7
b
R b
7 9 3 R b
7 b
3 b
3

11

R 11

A maj13 n/a n/a D maj13 E13 n/a n/a

x R
x x R R b
7 R

7 3

13 5 3 13 7 3 5 13 9

13

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI b
VII i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 6

 Key of G Major (& E Minor)

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

G Am Bm C D Em F#º
5 R 3 x R 5 x x 3 5 3 x x R
3 R b
3 5 R x x
b
3 R

Triad 3 5 R R 5 3 5 3 5 R R b
3

R 5 R b
3 R 5 R b
5

5 R R

G sus2 A sus2 n/a C sus2 D sus2 E sus2 n/a

x 5 x R 2 5 x 2 5 x x R 2 R 5 R

sus2 2 5 R 5 5

R 5 R R 2 5 R

2 5

G sus4 A sus4 B sus4 n/a D sus4 E sus4 n/a

5 R x R 5 x R 4 x x R R 5 R

sus4 5 R R 5 5 R 4

R 4 R 4 R 4

5 R

G add9 Am add9 n/a Cadd9 D add9 Em add9 n/a

x 5 3 x R 5 x 5 3 x 9 R b
3 5 R

b
3

add9 3 9 5 3 5 5

R R R 9 5 R

9 3 9

G maj6 Amin6 n/a C maj6 D maj6 n/a n/a

x 5 R 3 6 x R 5
x 3 x x R 6

b
3 R

6 3 R 3 6 5 3

R 5 R

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI VII
b
i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 7

 Key of G Major (& E Minor) [continued]

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

G maj7 A min7 B min7 C maj7 D7 E min7 F#ø

5 R 3 x R b
7 5 x b
3 R x 5 7 3 x x R R b
3 R x x b
7

b
3 b
7 b
5

7 3 7 5 R b
7 5 3 5 3 5 R b
3

R R 5 b
7 b
3

G maj9 A min9 n/a C maj9 D9 E min9 n/a

R 3 x R x 3 x 9 R b
3 R

b
3

9 3
rd R 5 3 3rd R 5

7 b
7 R 9 3 b
7

5 9 9 7 R b
7 9

G 6/9 Am 6/9 n/a C 6/9 D 6/9 n/a n/a

x 5 3 6 x R 9 5 x 3 x x 6 9

2nd 5

6/9 9 6 3 6

R 4th b
3 R 9 5 3

n/a A min11 B min11 C maj7 (#11) n/a E min11 F#ø(add11)

x R 5 x b
3 11 x 5 7 R 11 b
7

11 3rd 11 R b
7 9 3 11
#
5 R 11 R b
3

R b
7 b
3 b
5

b
7 b
3 R

G maj13 n/a n/a C maj13 D13 n/a n/a

R 3 13 x 7 x 13 9

13 3 3 13

R 5 R 5
4th 3

7 R b
7

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI VII
b
i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 8

 Key of E Major (& C# Minor)

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

E F#m G#m A B C#m D#º

R 5 R x R 3 5 x x x b
3 x x
3

Triad 5 R R b
3 5 R
4th R b
3 5 R 5 R 3 R
4th R
6th
R

b
3 b
5 b
3

5 R 5 R 5 R 3 5 R R

E sus2 F# sus2 n/a A sus2 B sus2 C# sus2 n/a

R 5 R x x x R 2 5
x x
4th R 2

sus2 5 5 R R 2 5
4th R 2 5

2 5 R 5 R 5 R

E sus4 F# sus4 G# sus4 n/a B sus4 C# sus4 n/a

R 5 R
x x x x x R 4 x
4th R 4 5

sus4 5 R 4 5 R
4th 5 R R

R 4 R 4 5 R 4

E add9 F#m add9 n/a Aadd9 B add9 C#m add9/G# n/a

R 5
x x x R 5 x x x x b
3

add9 5 R 9 b
3 5 5 3
7th 5 4th 9

R 9 9 R 9 5 R

E maj6 F#min6 n/a A maj6 B maj6 n/a n/a

xR R x x x R x x
3 6

6 5 R R 3 5
6th 6
b
6 5 R 3 6

R 5

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI VII
b
i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 9

 Key of E Major (& C# Minor) [continued]

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

E maj7 F# min7 G# min7 A maj7 B7 C# min7 D#ø

R 5 R
x R 5 x R
x b
7 b
3 x x
7 3 R

7 6th
R 7 3 R
4th
3
4th
5 7 3
b b b
3
b b
5 R b
7 b
3 5 R 5 R b
7 5 R

7 5 5 5 R

E maj9 F# min9 n/a A maj9 B9/D# C# min9 n/a

R R x R x R x R x b
3

9 6th 3 R b
7 b
3 5 5 3
6th
3 9 b
3

R 9 b
7 R

7 5 9 9 7 R b
7 9

E 6/9 F#m 6/9 n/a A 6/9 B 6/9 n/a n/a

R x xx x R 5 x
3 b
3 3 6

6/9 R 6 9 3 R 9 5

R 6 9

6 9

n/a F# min11 G# min11/D# A maj7 (#11) n/a C# min11 n/a

b
3 11 b
7
x b
3 x R 5 x b
7 b
3

11 R 7 3
4th R
4th
b b
11
#

5 R 4 7 3 R 11

E maj13 n/a n/a A maj13 B13 n/a n/a

R R
x R
x x
7 3 7

13 5 13 5 3 13
7th
R b
7

13

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI b
VII i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 10

 Key of D Major (& B Minor)

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

D Em F#m G A Bm C#º
x x R
3 R b
3 5 R 35 R 3 x R 5 x b
5 b
3

Triad 5 3 5 R R b
3 5 R 3 5 R 3 R 5
b
3 R

R R 5 R b
3

5 R 5 R R

D sus2 E sus2 n/a G sus2 A sus2 B sus2 n/a

x x R 2 R 5 R x 5 x R 2 5 x

sus2 5 5 2 5 R R 2 5

R R 5 R

2 5 5 R

D sus4 E sus4 F# sus4 n/a A sus4 B sus4 n/a

x x R R 5 R x x x R 5 x R 4

sus4 5 5 R 4 5 R 5 R R

R 4 4

R 4 5 R

D add9 Em add9 n/a Gadd9 A add9 Bm add9 n/a

x 9 R b
3 5 R x 5 3 x R 5 x x b
3

add9 5 5 3 9 5 3 9 5

R R R

3 9 9 R

D maj6 Emin6 n/a G maj6 A maj6 n/a n/a

x x R 6 R b
3 R 5 R 3 6 x R

6 5 3 5 R 6 3 5 R 3 6

R 5

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI VII
b
i iiº

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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 11

 Key of D Major (& B Minor) [continued]

I ii iii IV V vi viiº

D maj7 E min7 F# min7 G maj7 A7 B min7 C#ø

x x R
3 R b
3 R 5 R 3
x R b
7 5 x b
3 R x b
5 b
7 b
3

7 R 7
b
5 7 3 5 R R b
7 b
3 5 R 3 7 5 3 5 b
3

b
7 b
3 R

5 R

D maj9 E min9 n/a G maj9 A9 B min9 n/a

x 9 R b
3 R 3 x R 9 5 x b
3

9 4th 3 5 R 9
3rd
R R b
7 9 5

R 9 b
7 7
5
th b
7

7 5 9 3

D 6/9 Em 6/9 n/a G 6/9 A 6/9 n/a n/a

x x 6 9 R b
3 x 5 3 6 x R 5

2nd 5

6/9 5 R 6 9 9 3

3 R

R 6 9

n/a E min11 F# min11 G maj7 (#11) n/a B min11 C#ø(add11)

R b
3 11 b
7 x x x b
3 11 x b
5 b
7

2nd 11 7
#

11 5 R 11 R b
7 b
3 R R b
7 9 b
3 11

b
7 b
3 3

R R

D maj13 n/a n/a G maj13 A13 n/a n/a

x x R R 3 13 x R b
7

13 7 3 3 5 3 13

R 5

13 7

Minor
Key
III
b
iv v b
VI b
VII i iiº
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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 12

 Bonus Page
20 Common Chord Progressions
Common Two-Chord Chord Progressions:
1. ||: I | ii :||
2. ||: I | IV :||
3. ||: I | vi :|| (Hallelujah progression)
4. ||: I | bVII I :||
5. ||: I |V |V |I :||
6. ||: ii |V :|| or ||: iimin7 | V7 :||

Common Three-Chord Chord Progressions:

7. ||: I IV | V IV :|| (Louie Louie Progression)
8. ||: I |I |I |I | IV | IV | I |I |V | IV | I | V :|| (Simple 12 bar blues)
9. ||: iimin7 | V7 | Imaj7 | Imaj7 :||
10. ||: i |i |i |i | iv | iv | V7 | V7 :|| (used in “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish)
11. ||: i bVII | bVI bVII :|| (All Along the Watchtower progression)
12. ||: ii | IV |I |I :||

Common Four-Chord (or more) Chord Progressions:

13. ||: I vi | IV V :|| (Doo-Wop/50’s Progression)
14. ||: I vi | ii V :||
15. ||: I |V | vi | IV :|| (Yes, that progression)
16. ||: I | iii | IV |V :|| (Let’s Get it On Progression)
17. ||: i b
VII | bVI V :|| (Andalusian Cadence)
18. ||: iiimin7 | vimin7 | iimin7 | V7 :|| (Jazz turnaround progression)
19. ||: i imin(maj7) | imin7 imin6 :|| (Line cliche used in Stairway to Heaven)
20. ||: I |V | vi | iii | IV |I | IV |V :|| (Canon in D progression)

Note: You can play variations of these common chord progressions to make them your own
by changing the quality (major vs minor) of any chord and/or by adding extensions (the color
notes from this chart) to any chord.
Return to Table of Contents Chords with Color | 13
 Final Notes

With those five major keys (CAGED) and their relative minor keys,
all of the most common chord shapes on the guitar—and their
in-color alternatives—are included.

If you know anyone who might be interested in this free chord

chart, instead of sending them a copy, please direct them to:

https://www.soundguitarlessons.com/chordswithcolor

That way I can follow up with supplamentary guides and lessons

on how to get the most out of this material.

If you have any questions or suggestions please send me an

email anytime:

jared@soundguitarlessons.com

Thanks, and happy chord coloring!

Jared Borkowski

soundguitarlessons.com

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soundguitarlessons.com Chords with Color | 14