Major chords are triads composed of the first, third, and fifth notes of a major scale that form its basis in many songs and are among the first chords music composers usually learn.
Chords may also be built using other scale degrees – for instance, minor 6th chords or major 9 chords can also be built – known as diatonic chords.
A major
A major chord is a three-note triad composed of the root note, major third note and perfect fifth tone. While this is the standard form for major chords, other arrangements exist that may be used.
Major chords include Csus2 or Csus4, which can be defined as triads containing roots, major thirds and perfect fifths; dominant or diminished chords also fall under this category.
B major
The B major chord is an emotionally charged one, being described as “strongly colored, heralding wild passions”, as it can elicit anger, jealousy, rage and despair in listeners.
Chords in a Major key tend to be constructed from triads, and their intervals often follow a specific pattern; usually one whole step between first and second notes, and half tone between third and fourth notes.
C major
C Major chord is typically the first major chord you will hear when listening to songs, such as this John Lennon classic.
Every triad chord has as many inversions as its scale degrees minus one, due to the shorter intervals between its root note and chord tones when moving down an octave – for instance, its fifth is only six semitones from its root note!
D major
The D major chord consists of three notes – its root (D), third (F#), and fifth (A). This chord has an upbeat sound, used widely in popular songs like Led Zeppelin’s Over the Hills and Far Away and John Denver’s Leaving on a Jet Plane.
This table illustrates seven diatonic chords formed from the D major scale, where vii represents the seventh triad chord in that key.
E major
E major chord is an iconic one that adds energy and passion to any song, from upbeat pop numbers to mournful laments about lost love. It makes an excellent place to begin when writing music for any genre or purpose imaginable.
Below is a diagram depicting the notes and chords for E major scale, along with its relative minor: C# minor and its parallel major: G major.
F major
F major chords are extremely adaptable, and can easily blend in with many different kinds of chords – for instance, F minor and C major are among their many possibilities.
Chords can also be altered by adding additional notes or using different ‘flavors’, for instance creating a major 7th chord by adding one note that is seven notes above its root (known as a suspended chord).
G major
G major is one of the most widely used key signatures in songs. You’ll often hear this enunciated in popular tunes like Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door”, as well as classical compositions with similar tonality.
G chords are composed of three notes from their major scale – known as triads. To play one, use either of the following open G chord shapes.
H major
If the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of a triad all fall within their respective scales then it is classified as a major chord. You can also distinguish it by counting semitones; if its third note moves downward a semitone then it becomes minor chord.
Musical patterns may initially seem complicated, but as you learn music they will quickly become second nature. For example, major thirds consist of C and E notes, so when taken up a perfect fifth level they become G and A notes.
I major
Major chords form the backbone of most songs, being easy and satisfyingly sounding chords that fit right into Ionian music mode which embodies positivity and positivity.
Chords don’t stop at just triads; in genres like jazz, you can add seventh or ninth intervals on top of a triad for extra color and variety in your chords. This creates unique sounds and adds extra dimension.
J major
As is evident from the table, most major chords contain fewer potential suspended notes than their minor counterparts, making them simpler and quicker to play.
Major chords evoke feelings of happiness, lightness and positivity; in Western music they’re associated with celebrating joyous occasions.
These chords are commonly known as major 6 and major 7. You’ll often see these voicings with an added nine, adding brightness to their sound.