Is there a certain formula to make chords just like there is for scales?

All these relate back to the major scale

Major = 1,3,5
Minor = 1,b3,5

Dom 7 = 1,3,5,b7
Maj 7 = 1,3,5,7
minor 7 = 1,b3,5,b7

Sus 2 = 1,2,5
Sus 4 = 1,4,5

then add on other extentions, they are pretty easy to work out.

remember add 7 if the extention is over 8 i.e a 9 chord is adding a the 2nd note of the major scale but up an octave.

Hi there!

Yes indeed, there are simple formulae to create chords, each flavor of chord has a formula based on intervals, stratman listed out a few above. The key to understanding them though is to learn about degrees of the scale and intervals, then use that knowledge to construct the chords - check out my Intervals Triads and Harmonies lessons for more information!