Welcome to the fascinating world of chords! While this report is not
meant to replace any of the fine harmony/theory books available that
elaborate in greater detail, I think you will find it contains information
that you can quickly and easily use to enhance and expand your own guitar
playing regardless of what style of music you play.  So let's get right into
it!
    
     A two octave C major scale would contain the following notes going from
low to high:   C1 - D2 - E3 - F4 - G5 - A6 - B7 - C8 - D9 - E10 - F11 - G12 - <
A13 - B14 - C15.   Notice that there is a number following each of the notes.
 These are the scale degrees that will be used to explain the "spelling" of
the various chords.
 
    A  C major chord would consist of the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the
major scale or C, E and G.  Instead of just playing a C major chord you could
"embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will sound
richer and fuller:
     C major 6th -  which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th degrees
                              or C, E, G and A
     C major 7th -  which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th  degrees
                              or C, E, G and B
     C major 6/9 - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th degrees
                              or C, E, G, A, and D
     C major 9th -  which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th degrees
                              or C, E, G, B and D
     C major 13th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, and 13th
                               degrees or C, E, G, B, D and A
 
     A  C minor chord would consist of the 1st, b3rd and 5th degrees of the
major scale or  C, Eb, and G.  Instead of just playing a C minor chord you
could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will
sound richer and fuller:
     C minor 6th -  which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th and 6th degrees
                               or  C, Eb, G and A.
     C minor 7th -  which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, and b7th degrees
                               or  C, Eb, G and Bb
     C minor 6/9 - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, 6th and 9th
                               degrees or  C, Eb, G, A and D
     C minor 9th  - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th and 9th
                               degrees or  C, Eb, G, Bb, and D
     C minor 11th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 11th
                                degrees or  C, Eb, G, Bb, D and F
     C minor 13th - which contains the 1st, b3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 13th
                                degrees or  C, Eb, G, Bb, D and A
 
    
   
 A  C 7th chord would consist of the 1st, 3rd, 5th and b7th degrees of
the major scale or  C, E, G and Bb.  Instead of just playing a C7th chord you
could "embellish" the song by using any of the following chords which will
sound richer and fuller:
     C  9th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th, and 9th degrees
                   or  C, E, G, Bb, and D
     C 13th - which contains the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th, 9th and 13th degrees
                   or  C, E, G, Bb, D and A  
 
     A  C 7th sus4,  C9th sus4 and C13th sus4 are merely the above C7th, 
C9th, and  C13th chords with the 4th degree of the major scale or  F added to
them.  By the way, a C9th sus4 and a C11th chord are really the same chord
since they contain the same notes.
 
     Often you will see the symbols  +5, b5, +9 or b9 following the chord
name.  When you see a  C 7th+5 you would now sharp the 5th degree or G and
use a G# in the chord instead.  The C7th+5 chord would consist of the 1st,
3rd, #5th and b7th degrees of the major scale or C, E, G# and Bb.  The same
principle would apply to the following examples:
     C 7th b5 chord - consists of the 1st, 3rd, b5th and b7th degrees
                   of the major scale or  C, E, Gb, and Bb   
     C 7th +9 chord - consists of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th and #9th degrees
                   of the major scale or   C, E, G, Bb, and D#
     C 7th b9 chord - consists of the 1st, 3rd, 5th, b7th and b9th degrees
                   of the major scale or  C, E, G, Bb and Db
   
     A  C Dim 7th chord would consist of the 1st, b3rd, b5th and bb7th
degrees of the major scale or C, Eb, Gb, and Bbb (A).  Notice that this chord
is unique in that it repeats itself every 3 frets up or down the guitar neck.
     A  C Minor (maj 7th) chord would consist of the 1st, b3rd, 5th and 7th
degrees of the major scale or  C, Eb, G and B.  This chord is often used to
connect a C minor to a C minor 7th.  The chord passage is typically played C
minor-->C minor (maj 7th)-->C minor 7th-->
C minor 6th.
     A  C Aug (add 9) chord would consists of the 1st, 3rd, #5th and 9th
degrees of the major scale or C, E, G# and D.  Notice that this chord is
unique in that it repeats itself every 4 frets up or down the guitar neck.
 
     As well as "embellishing" or "extending" chords you can also
"substitute" certain chords for other chords.  This can really start to
enhance your playing because it affords you the ability to create more
harmonic movement.
 
    When you see a C major chord you could substitute a minor chord based on
the 3rd degree (E) or 6th degree (A) of the major scale.  So, instead of just
playing a C major 7th you could now substitute an    E minor 7th or an A
minor 7th instead.
 
    When you see a C7th chord you could substitute a minor chord based on the
5th degree (G) of the major scale.  So instead of just playing a C7th, you
could now substitute a G minor 7th instead.
     When you see a C minor chord, you could substitute a major chord based
on the b3rd (Eb) of the major scale.  So, instead of playing a C minor 7th,
you could now substitute an Eb major 7th.
     For any chord type, you can always substitute another chord based on the
b5th degree (Gb) of the major scale.  So, when you see
a C7th, C major 7th or C minor 7th chord, you could substitute a
Gb7th,  Gbmajor 7th  or  Gbminor 7th instead.
 
    Diminished 7th chords can often be used to connect one chord to another
chord. Let's say your chord progression was  C major 7th--> D minor 7th-->
E minor 7th--> F major 7th--> G 7th--> C major 7th. You could now play C major 7th
--> C#Dim 7th--> D minor 7th--> D# Dim 7th--> E minor 7th --> F Dim 7th-->
F major 7th--> G 7th--> C major 7th instead. For an "ultra cool" sound, try
substituting minor 7th#5 chords for diminished 7th chords. Now your chord
progression would be C major 7th--> C# minor 7th#5--> D minor 7th--> D# minor 7th#5
--> E minor 7th--> F minor 7th#5-->F major 7th--> G 7th--> C major 7th.
 
    Here's another tip. For a "jazzier" sound try substituting 7th#9 chords for
minor 7th chords. In other words, instead of playing C minor 7th, substitute
C 7th#9 instead.  
 
    "Backcycling" is another way to find substitute chords.  Let's say your
chord progression was C major-->G 7th-->C major.  Find the note that's a
perfect 5th above G and add a chord based on that note which would be a D
note.  Now your chord progression could be     C major-->D minor 7th-->G
7th--> C major.
      Next, let's find the note that's a perfect 5th above D and add a chord
based on that note which would be an A note.  Now your chord progression
could be   C major-->A 7th-->D minor 7th-->G 7th-->C major.
      Next, let's find the note that's a perfect 5th above A and add a chord
based on that note which would be an E note.  Now your chord progression
could be C major-->E minor 7th-->A 7th-->D minor 7th--> G 7th  -->C major.
 
     To round out this report, let's go back to where we started with our C major
scale and harmonize the entire scale with chords. Using each scale tone as the
lowest note of the chord, our C major scale would harmonize like this:
C major 7th--> D minor 7th--> E minor 7th--> F major 7th--> G 7th--> A minor 7th
--> B minor 7thb5-->C major 7th. The B minor 7thb5 could also be called a
B half-diminished 7th.
    
    
 

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