A major chord has its counterpart in minor form: the diminished triad. While both share similar qualities, they differ by half-step due to one extra fret being present on one chord.
The dominant (also referred to as 5 or V chord) creates tension that naturally releases into tonic chord, providing an effective tool for key changes in any song.
C Major
C Major is an ideal starting point for beginners looking to learn chords on guitar. Being the only major scale without flats (black keys) makes learning it quick and straightforward; helping players quickly progress with good finger positions and posture on the instrument.
A C triad is composed of three notes separated by intervals of a third. As this major chord sounds very satisfying, this form is especially pleasing.
D Major
The D major scale has two sharps, meaning chords in this key have some extra notes than other keys – known as extension notes – added for greater chord extensions.
Once you get used to adding additional notes, they are usually easy to incorporate. For instance, Cadd9 is simply C7 with an added 9th.
E Major
E Major features four sharps and can be difficult to learn at first, but once you understand its chord pattern it should come easily. Chords are composed of intervals arranged into patterns called triads that ultimately form chords.
From adrenaline-charged bangers to heartbreaking laments of lost love, this key is an integral one in many songs. If playing is difficult for you, consider using a bass note in the left hand as this may make playing easier.
F Major
F Major is a standard piano key with one flat note, providing access to chord tones five semitones away with shorter jumps since they are closer to the root note.
Remember when descending from the highest note sound back down to its starting note (tonic), that when switching keys the scale degree names will vary accordingly! This applies for every key.
G Major
G Major chord is a standard choice in rock songs and certain forms of dance music such as Trap, Dubstep and House. At its core lies a three-note G Major triad chord.
To play a G triad, use your thumb for G, index finger for A and middle finger for B. From there you can add further notes to create new chords.
A Major
Chords are created from scales, and constructed from intervals found at key centers. There is an easy pattern for building major chords from any note on the piano!
Every major key contains three Major chords, three Minor chords and one Diminished chord that can be combined to make Augmented chords. If you move a song to another key, the chords simply move up one half step!
B Major
The B Major chord has an intense, powerful sound. This makes it suitable for numerous styles of music.
Chords can be built using any note from a major scale. For instance, G# in B Major can be transformed into either a G# Major chord, G# minor chord or even G# augmented chord – similar options apply with other notes as well.
C Minor
As C minor is the relative minor key of E major, composers can use its key signature to modulate or change key within a piece by taking chords from either major or minor keys as source chords.
Numerous songs, like The Eagles’ “Hotel California” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, utilize C Minor as a key of yearning and desire.
D Minor
The D minor scale features one B flat in its key signature and serves as the relative minor of F major.
But random chord combinations won’t sound like music; for the human ear to appreciate music properly, chords must come in an ordered progression.
Musicians depend on certain chord progressions to convey mood and emotion, helping them convey the desired messages to audiences.
E Minor
E Minor is an extremely versatile chord, frequently found in songs by Van Morrison such as Brown Eyed Girl. E minor is composed of notes derived from the E natural minor scale and constructed using it as its basis.
Each note in a natural minor scale has what’s known as its scale degree name, which refers to how they relate to the tonic (first) note of its key.