Chord Spelling - An Alternate Approach

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For a major triad, the chord tones are the 1st, 3rd and 5th scale degrees of a major scale starting on the root of the chord you're using to determine the chord tones. For a minor triad, you simply flat the 3rd.

A C or C major chord the 1st, 3rd, and 5th of the C major scale (C D E F G A B C) are the C, E, and G. For C minor (Cm) it's C, Eb, and G.

By memorizing one sequence of notes, your major scales and a few chord building rules we can learn the notes, to spell ANY chord.

Traditional Chord Spelling/Building Approach

The traditional approach, which is the way to go, is to learn the notes of individual chords based from the major scale of the root of the chord. For Cm11 the root is C, so the major scale is C major. For Bb7 the root is Bb and the major scale is Bb major.

By memorizing one sequence of notes, the major scales, i.e., key signatures) and a few chord building rules you can learn to spell ANY chord. The directions are actually built into the chord's name. This is a beneficial skill to have for harmonizing a melody with a chord and for improving your improvisations.