Adding color to basic major chords is pretty simple. You could add a 6th,7th,9th,11th,13th etc.. interval from the C major scale to add that color. In theory a basic major chord is built on the 1,3,5 intervals of the major scale. If you wanted to play a major sixth all you would need to do is add the 6th from the major scale to the 1,3,5 formula to make up a C major 6 chord with the formula of 1,3,5,6.
Some of the most common major chords are
C 6
C maj 7
C 6/9
C Major 7/9
C maj 13
C maj 9
etc....
When adding tensions to your major chords remember the tensions come right form the related scale of the chord. For example C Major Chord = C major Scale or D Major Chord = D Major Scale
Of course you can add tensions not mentioned here but this lesson is meant to be an intro to chord theory.
Here's some major chord formulas to get you started
1,3,5---Major
1,3,5,6---- Major 6th
1,3,5,6,9---Major 6/9
1,3,5,7-----Major 7th
1,3,5,7,9---Major 7/9
1,3,5,7,9,11---Major 11
1,3,5,7,9,11,13--- Major 13
C major Scale
The numbers in parenthesis are the chord intervals (Tensions) we will be using.
(6) (7) (9) (11)
E||--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
B||--------------------|--------------------|-------5----6----8--|
G||--------------------|------------4----5--|--7-----------------|
D||-----------------3--|--5----7------------|--------------------|
A||--3----5----7-------|--------------------|--------------------|
E||--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
(13)
--5----7----8--||
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