There are only THREE main types or "families" of chords.

Melody permitting, any chord may be substituted within a group or family.

E.g. Cmaj 9 could be substituted for C as long as there is no melody conflict.

Hopefully the following chart will get rid of the confusion that many people have about chord

types.

Major Minor (DOM.) 7th

C Cm (C-) C7

Cmaj7 Cm7 C7b9

C6 Cm6 C9

Cmaj9 Cm7b5 C7#9

Cmaj9#11 Cmmaj7 C7b5

C6/9 Cm9 C7#5 (C7+)

C2 Cm9b5 C13

Cmaj13 Cm6/9 C9#11*

C+ Cmmaj9 C7b13*

Cmaj7#5 Cm11 C11*

Cm13 Combinations of

above with

alterations of 5 &

9 Eg. C13 b9 C7

#5 #9

Cm#5 (Cmb6)

Cdim**

* for guitar voicings, 11=4 #11=b5 13=6 b13=#5

** A Diminished chord is like a m6b5 chord