Chords 1

Let’s first list some facts about chords and then go back and explain each one.

  1. A chord is three or more notes played simultaneously
  2. There are four basic chord qualities upon which all chords are built
  3. Chords are described by either the successive stacking of intervals or step formula
  4. Chords are named for one or more of the intervals the contain
  5. All chords are derived from scales in either a pure or altered form

Chords are three or more notes played at the same. Three note chords are called triads. There are four basic triad types or qualities upon which all other chords are built. The four basic chord qualities are:

  1. Major
  2. Minor
  3. Diminished
  4. Augmented

Triad Formulas

All four of the above triad types contain a root note (or 1)  some type of 3rd interval as measured from the root and some type 5th interval also measured from the root. So for example:

  • A major triad consists of a Root, a Major 3rd and a Perfect 5th. This means then that a C-Major triad is constructed with a C as the root. Then a Major third ( or 2 whole steps) from the root is E. Then again from the root to a perfect 5th ( or 3 and 1/2 steps ) is G. Another way to count intervals within chords is to, instead of counting from the root to each note in the chord, you could count and add the intervals between the individual notes ( as chords are often counted) that would be 2 steps from the C to the E then 1 and 1/2 steps from the E to the G (or a Major 3rd with a minor 3rd stacked on top) The Major triad is named for the Major 3rd interval that it contains.
  • A minor triad consists of a Root, a minor 3rd and a perfect 5th. So a C-min triad would be C-Eb-G which is 1 and 1/2 steps (a min 3rd)  from C to Eb and then 3 and 1/2 steps (a perfect 5th) from C to G. Or instead you can count the “stacked” intervals from C-Eb and then Eb-G which together would be a minor third with a Major third stacked on top. The minor triad is basically a Major triad with “a flat 3rd”  and it is named for the minor or “flat” third interval it contains.
  • A diminished triad is basically a minor triad with a flat 5th instead of a perfect 5th. This means that a C diminished triad consists of a C-Eb-Gb. This triad is named for the Diminished or flat 5th interval from C to Gb.
  • An augmented triad is a Major triad with a sharp or “augmented” 5th interval instead of a perfect 5th. So this means that a C augmented triad consists of C-E-G#. This triad is named for the augmented or sharp 5th interval it contains.

The major triad is taken from every other note of the major scale starting on the root so if out of the C major scale, C-D-E-F-G-A-B, you take every other note starting with the root, you get CEG or the C Major triad.

In the same way the minor triad is taken from every other note of the natural minor scale.

The diminished triad is taken from every other note starting on the seventh degree of the Major scale or from the Locrian mode so for example the Db Major scale is Db-Eb-F-Gb Ab-Bb-C which would make its 7th or Locrian mode C Locrian or C-Db-Eb-F-Gb-Ab-Bb. Then by taking every other note of the C Locrian mode starting with its root you get C-Eb-Gb which is the C-Diminished triad 

The augmented triad does not fit naturally into either the major or the natural minor scale and therefore it is considered to be an altered chord.

You must understand and commit to memory these four basic triads along with all of their various intervals and steps before you move on to learning larger more complex chords. These intervals will determine the names of larger chords and their functions within chord progressions as they will added onto and sometimes even altered from their original size.

Next we will talk about the harmonized Major and minor scales, chord symbols and then move on to four note chords.

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