Major chords consist of the first, third and fifth notes in any major scale; for instance, C major consists of pitches C-E-G. However, unlike their minor counterparts, major chords may be played at any octave.
Chords are composed of scale degrees that correspond with major and minor scales, making transposition easier.
Root note
Root notes serve as the building blocks upon which chords are constructed; they can be either minor, major, diminished or augmented notes. Chords are usually stacked in third intervals; for example, chords based on C could include C-E-G that could be played either “root position”, first inversion (using its root note as second note), or second inversion (where its root becomes fifth note).
Major chords’ cheerful sound comes from their interval between root and major third, and is one of the first chords you’ll learn to play. They form the basis of most songs and will likely be one of your first experiences playing chords – for instance the G dominant seventh chord contains four notes that correspond to its roots, third, fifth and flat seventh on a G major scale scale: G-B-D-F.
Major third
Utilizing the major third is one of the key techniques for chord building. It enables you to form powerful yet upbeat power chords and breaks out of scale rut, where solos often seem repetitively played up and down an instrument’s scale.
Major thirds span four semitones, making them wider than minor thirds and diminished/augmented thirds. Furthermore, other intervals that span three staff positions include unison and octave intervals.
To play a major chord, it is necessary to know how to form its root note, major third and fifth notes from its key’s scale. You can use other chord tones for additional sounds in your chords; major seventh chords feature two root notes and major thirds and can even be inverted by shifting two to three frets upward or downward on their original strings.
Major triad
The major triad is the most fundamental form of chord, composed of three notes that represent root note, major third and perfect fifth. This three-note combination forms the building blocks for many other types of chords such as augmented and diminished ones.
Triads may be inverted while still remaining major triads. To invert, move both notes up or down by one semitone or piano key; this process is known as “voicing the chord”.
Diminished, augmented and suspended chords are also types of triads; however, major triads are the most frequently found type; its structure being created from the circle of fifths that describes how its three chords form on every degree of the major scale; this chord may also be known as a tonic chord; when inverted it changes into a dominant chord which is less stable.
Minor triad
Major triads feature consonant intervals and provide a high degree of harmony among its constituent notes, creating an aesthetically pleasing soundscape which is harmonious and pleasing to listeners. Minor triads on the other hand, tend to produce mournful sounds.
To create a minor triad, begin with a root note and add notes that are generic thirds and fifths above it; these notes are known as “triad tones”, and can be found in any key of your choosing. Enharmonic equivalence allows you to switch among keys without changing triad tones.
Having learned CAGED major triads will make learning minor triads much simpler; just switch out the major third for one in minor key and you will discover an entirely different set of sounds to explore! Use these tones in your improvisations for new sonorities to add into your musical palette! Focus on that crucial third; it makes a huge difference to its tone!