Major chords form the core of many songs, comprising three triads that include notes 1, 3, and 5 in a major scale, along with an interval beyond root note such as C major or dominant 7th chord.
Starting on any note on the fretboard, a major chord can be formed by selecting three notes a third apart – this forms the basic building block for all major and minor chords.
Triads
Major triad chords are at the core of chord theory. Consisting of its root note (first note in its related scale), third, and fifth notes, these triads form an essential building block of all musical harmony.
The main distinction between major and minor triads lies in their intervals; major triads feature an even fifth interval between their root note and third note, giving them a full, rich sound. Minor triads by contrast tend to feature larger spaces between these notes that create an unusual, harsh sound quality.
This also explains why, typically, major chords produce an upbeat and lively sound while minor ones tend to produce more of a melancholic one.
Your chords composed from these three basic triads will have various qualities depending on the key signature and finger positioning, but what’s most crucial about their construction is understanding how intervals between notes work to give you more creative control in creating chord composition. Altering one third in a C major triad to a minor third will produce an entirely new chord sounding quite differently from its counterpart.
Major Thirds
Minor thirds are always major; unlike minor ones which can vary between minor and major tones. Their name derives from covering three alphabetic notes C-E-G over two whole steps (one octave). This interval corresponds with perfect fifths discussed earlier in this guide.
Root note of every chord. Next note is called chord tone; its characteristic sound determines its name. A third above or five steps below this note can be identified as dominant or seventh chord respectively.
A major scale’s chord formulas can be broken down simply: any triad formed on the first, fourth and fifth scale degrees is guaranteed to form major chords. Other chords will form on other degrees too; second and sixth degrees typically do not feature prominently in music pieces; similarly with sevenths: even when their lower octave forms what may be termed minor seventh chords they still form major chords.
Minor Thirds
And while we’re talking intervals, a minor third is an interval spanning three half steps that, when added together with major intervals, forms chords.
Perfect fifths are steps that represent both major and minor thirds above or below a given note, such as C to G for example.
Building minor chords by stacking thirds is one method, but inversions of chord notes may give your composition a unique sound and change its personality.
Major chords can still be identified regardless of their order; changing its notes to produce different sounds is known as “voicing”. Experiment with different arrangements until you find one that feels comfortable; don’t be afraid to break away from traditional practices when something strikes your fancy!
Perfect Fifths
All major chords consist of three components – root, minor third, and perfect fifth triads – derived by harmonizing any scale and producing these triads from any note on the fretboard to produce either major or minor chords.
Identity and quality of a chord depend upon its distance between its root and third tone; this measurement gives major chords their major quality.
Utilizing the circle of fifths as our guide, we can count two steps forward or backward to find an ideal interval. However, to obtain a perfect fifth above an established note (e.g. B), an extra half step must be added so as to achieve an exact fiver interval.
Harmonic intervals such as perfect fifths are used in many different areas of music. They are particularly beneficial in creating harmony and tonal function; their sound can be deeply soothing and uplifted, helping relax and heal both body and mind.