Chords in a key

1. Chords in a key Understanding how a scale can give rise to a set of chords.

2. Key terms • Chord – multiple notes played together. In this tutorial the chords will be made using 3 notes in total. • Root note – The note that the chord is built upon. For example, C major starts with a C. E min starts with an E. • 3rd – a musical distance between notes. 3rd’s can be described as major or minor. Look at the intervals resource for more information. • Major scale – 7 different notes put together using a pattern of Tones and Semi-tones (see Building major scale) • Major Key – 7 chords all built using the same major scale.

3. Major key structure If we continue with the same pattern putting 3 notes in a chord we will created 7 chords in total (1 for each degree of the scale). We started with the root note, then added a 3rd above it, followed by another 3rd above that. If you are unsure about what a 3rd is see the Intervals resource. The 7 different notes can each be used as a root note for a chord to build upon. Watch how the notes of the first two chords are found. Wait the then click when ready. • Lets start of with the key of C major. • Here is the scale of C major

4. Major key chord pattern Try and compose simple songs or chord progressions using the following guidelines: 1 – 4 – 5 – 4 in Cmajor, 2 – 5 – 1 – 1 in C major, 6 – 5 – 4 – 4 in C major. Now change the progressions to other major keys. You might need to learn some new chords. A good tutorial for these chords would be Bar Chords. Take the major key quiz to test your understanding. • All major keys follow the same pattern (the one we just discovered) • Be it C major, Bb major they will have the same sequence of chord types but with different root notes. Learn the pattern below…