Chords

Chords in Do Position

Do Major

The Do Major Chord is made of three notes: Do, Mi and Sol.

The $\textbf{Sol}^7$ chord is made of three notes: Si, Fa and Sol.

Sol7

Fa Major

The Fa Major Chord is made of three notes: Do, Fa and La.

Chords in Sol Position

Sol Major

Re7

Do Major in Sol Position

We know that the Do Major is composed of the following notes: Do, Mi, Sol. When you play the same notes of a chord in a different order, it’s still the same chord, but in what’s called an inversion. For example:

• Root position of the Do major chord: Do (root), Mi, Sol.
• First inversion: Mi, Sol, Do (Mi is the lowest note).
• Second inversion: Sol, Do, Mi (Sol is the lowest note).

Tetrachord

A tetrachord is a series of four notes having a pattern of:

Whole step, whole step, half step

Major 3rd

A Major 3rd is an interval between two notes that are four half steps (semitones) apart. This interval gives a bright and happy sound. For example:

Minor 3rd

A Minor 3rd is an interval between two notes that are three half steps (semitones) apart. This interval gives a slightly darker or sadder sound. For example:

Perfect 5th

A Perfect 5th is a musical interval that spans seven half steps (or semitones) between two notes. For example:

Triads

A triad is a 3-note chord. The three notes of a triad are:

• Root
• Third
• Fifth

The root is the note from which the triad gets its name. The root of a Do Triad is Do.

Triads in root position are triads that have the root at the bottom.

Major Triads

Major triads consist of a root a Major 3rd and a Perfect 5th.

Minor Triads

Major triads consist of a root a Minor 3rd and a Perfect 5th.

Any Major triad may be changed to a minor triad by lowering the 3rd one half step.

Primary Chords

The three most important chords in any key are those built on the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the scale. These are called the PRIMARY CHORDS of the key.

The chords are identified by the roman numerals $\textbf{I}$, $\textbf{IV}$ and $\textbf{V}$. The $\textbf{V}$ chord usually adds the note a $7$th above the root to make a $\textbf{V}^7$.

Primary Chords in Do Major

• The $\textbf{I}$ chord is the Do Major Triad.
• The $\textbf{IV}$ chord is the Fa Major Triad.
• The $\textbf{V}$ chord is the $\text{Sol}^7$ Major Triad. (Sol Major triad with an added $7$th).

Primary Chords in Sol Major

• The $\textbf{I}$ chord is Sol Major.
• The $\textbf{IV}$ chord is the Do Major in Sol position.
• The $\textbf{V}$ chord is the Re7 Major.

Primary Chords in Fa Major

• The $\textbf{I}$ chord is Fa Major.
• The $\textbf{IV}$ chord is the Sib Major.
• The $\textbf{V}$ chord is the Do Major.

Primary Chords in Re Minor

• The $\textbf{I}$ chord is Re Minor (Rem).
• The $\textbf{IV}$ chord is the Sol Minor (Solm).
• The $\textbf{V}$ chord is the La7.

Chord Progressions

When we change from one chord to another, we call this a CHORD PROGRESSION.

To make the chord progressions easier to play and sound better, the $IV$ and $V^7$ chords may be played in other positions by moving one or more of the higher chord tones down an octave. For example for the primary chords on Do Major:

And the chord progressions for the primary chords Sol Major are:

Arpeggiated Progressions

When a wavy line appears beside a chord, the chord is said to be arpeggiated, that is broken or rolled. This means that you should play the lower note first, and quickly add the next higher notes one at a time until the chord is complete.