Note identifier · Reference entry
What chord is C–F–G?
Ranked readings
Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.
Every tone of Csus4 is present, with C in the bass — the definitive reading.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | sounding |
| 4 | F | sounding |
| 5 | G | sounding |
All tones of Fsus2 are present; the C note is lowest (2nd inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | sounding |
| 2 | G | sounding |
| 5 | C | sounding |
3rd, 6th, and 9th of E♭6/9 sound; it reads as E♭6/9 with the E♭ (1) and B♭ (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♭ | omitted |
| 3 | G | sounding |
| 5 | B♭ | omitted |
| 6 | C | sounding |
| 9 | F | sounding |
♭3, ♭7, and 11th of Dm11 sound; it reads as Dm11 with the D (1), A (5), and E (9) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | omitted |
| ♭3 | F | sounding |
| 5 | A | omitted |
| ♭7 | C | sounding |
| 9 | E | omitted |
| 11 | G | sounding |
3rd, 7th, and 13th of A♭maj13 sound; it reads as A♭maj13 with the A♭ (1), E♭ (5), B♭ (9), and D♭ (11) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | omitted |
| 3 | C | sounding |
| 5 | E♭ | omitted |
| 7 | G | sounding |
| 9 | B♭ | omitted |
| 11 | D♭ | omitted |
| 13 | F | sounding |
root, 4th, and ♭7 of G7sus4 sound; it reads as G7sus4 with the D (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | sounding |
| 4 | C | sounding |
| 5 | D | omitted |
| ♭7 | F | sounding |
Not these chords
Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.
Not G9sus4: a dominant 9th sus4 G chord needs A as its 9th — A is absent.
Not G11: a dominant 11th G chord needs B as its 3rd — B is absent.
Not Gm11: a minor 11th G chord needs B♭ as its ♭3 — B♭ is absent.
Not G13sus4: a dominant 13th sus4 G chord needs E as its 13th — E is absent.
Not Gm11♭5: a minor 11th ♭5 G chord needs B♭ as its ♭3 and D♭ as its ♭5 — B♭ and D♭ are absent.
How these notes relate
C, F, and G is a voicing of E♭6/9 with the E♭ (root) and B♭ (5th) left out.
The same notes over F in the bass spell Fsus2.
Add A (its 9th) and the set reads as G9sus4.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {0, 5, 7}
- Normal order
- [5,7,0]
- Prime form
- [0,2,7]
- Interval vector
- <010020>
- Forte set class
- 3-9
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