If you want to play piano songs, learning basic chords will be essential. Explore how major chords work so you can compose your own piano music!
Typically, major chords consist of three notes stacked one upon another: the root (lowest note in the chord), third (3 half steps above) and fifth (1 tone up from that).
Triads
A chord is any group of notes played simultaneously. Triads are the simplest type of chord, composed of three notes stacked one on top of another.
The initial note, or root note, of any chord is known as its root note; all other notes form interval notes whose quality depends on how far from its origin they lie.
To locate the third of a chord, begin by counting up four semitones from its root to reach its third tone. To reach its fifth tone, continue counting three semitones until reaching that level. Trident can be used in any rhythm and style imaginable; use them as block chords, arpeggios, or anything else!
Intervals
Intervals in chords constructed using major scale notes represent the distance between two notes; their size can be determined by counting the lines and spaces (or alphabet letters) that span from their start and end points.
Intervals may either be melodic or harmonic in nature. Melodic intervals refer to gaps between individual notes within a melody, whereas harmonic intervals refer to gaps between chord notes.
There are both perfect and imperfect intervals; examples include unison, fourth, fifth and octave as examples of perfect intervals. Major and minor intervals are also commonly found; when an interval becomes smaller by one semitone it decreases while expanding by half tone will expand it further.
Major Third
The major chord is one of the most recognized instruments in Western music. It evokes a feeling of hopefulness and optimism, making it popular in popular songs.
A major chord always includes two perfect third and fifth intervals – meaning the third note is four half steps higher than its root note, and two half steps lower for its fifth note.
Major chords also feature an uncommon variant known as the major 6th (or a6 for short), in which an extra sixth note is added to create C7 or sometimes written CM7 chord. Do not confuse this chord with the dominant seventh however!
Minor Third
Minor thirds cover three half steps or semitones and can be very useful in creating chords that sound very different from major ones. They also work well when used with single-note lines like Eb and G.
An interval is the space between any two notes in a chord; for example, if you see C major written as its chord name, that means its notes C, E and G are four half steps apart – this rule holds true no matter the scale being used.
Major Fifth
Nearly all music is tonal, and chords are created by playing multiple notes simultaneously. To form chords effectively you need to understand interval qualities and formulas like those related to major fifth chords.
This interval is more consonant, or stable, than all others except unison and octave. It is used by violins, violas and cellos to maintain tuning together as well as composers when writing chord progressions.
The circle of fifths is an invaluable organizational tool that makes remembering major and minor scale spelling, key signature arrangement, relative minor keys (since each major key has one) much simpler.
Minor Fifth
Once you master major chords on piano, it’s time to add variety and complexity with diminished and augmented chords. These variations add flair by raising or lowering minor third by one or two semitones – an effective way of adding interest and flavor.
You’ll usually see the name of the root note followed by a number to indicate an augmented chord, like C major 7. Other chords may also have letters such as F# or A to indicate they are diminished chords.
All major chords sound the same no matter which note serves as their root note due to the circle of fifths.