Major chords are often the starting point for beginning students of music theory. Not too difficult and providing an ideal opportunity to practice chord progressions and cadences.
A major chord consists of three components – the root note, major third and perfect fifth. If we take the note G as an example, the root is C and major third is E; then its perfect fifth G stands seven half steps above its root note.
Root
Major chords create an upbeat and cheerful environment when played musically and are typically the first type of chord you learn. Constructed of three notes arranged as a triad (1 + 3 + 5), such as C major’s root note E (major third from root) and G (perfect fifth from root).
Chords that contain more than three notes are also possible and known as seventh chords, added tone chords or other forms of extended chords.
An obvious characteristic of major chords is the placement of their root at the bottom of the scale and top notes one octave above it, due to their relationship with related scales – for instance C major is linked to C minor in terms of interval relationships – meaning all notes within any major scale correspond with those within any related minor scale.
Major Third
A major third in a chord defines its overall sound by connecting tonic and mediant scale degrees. For instance, C to E in a major chord constitutes one major third. Tonal music relies on this relationship because everything exists within something larger.
Major intervals span four whole steps (two large and two small). This represents a distinct departure from minor intervals, which only cover three half steps.
As a chord-building tool, the major third interval is among the most useful intervals. It can be found in all major chords as well as most augmented and diminished chords.
A major third is an interval made up of two semitones separated by two frets on guitar strings or piano keys, recognizable through their relationship to one another as two semitones separated by two frets are separated by two frets (or frets in piano keys). It’s easily recognisable because its shape matches that of a Perfect fifth; that is constructed by adding both major thirds and minor thirds above or below any given note – for example C to G is considered to be one such Perfect fifth that contains both major thirds and one minor third – for instance two Major thirds plus one minor third between C and G which would create two Major thirds and one minor third between C and G which completes its perfect fifth status.
Perfect Fifth
The perfect fifth is an interval that spans seven semi-steps (three whole steps plus a half step), found at the root of major and minor chords and their extensions, and considered more consonant than any other interval except unison and octave. Furthermore, many musicians employ it when creating power chords because this combination sounds both strong and powerful.
An effective way of identifying a perfect fifth in any scale is counting up from any note and finding its opposite in terms of sharps or flats – an efficient method for quickly identifying one at sight without needing a staff. When an interval between two notes falls below perfect fifth size, you get an augmented fifth, indicated by + or Caug at the end of their letter name accompanied with information such as min7b5. A diminished fifth is often difficult and discordant sounding; using counting up from any note can quickly identify its next sharp or flat note – an efficient method that quickly locates perfect fifths at sight without measuring with staffs. If an interval falls under perfect fifth size then an augmented fifth is formed which would also appear on an extended staff.
Inversions
A major chord can be defined as any triad containing both a major third and perfect fifth stacked on top of its root note, with the interval between these notes being one octave higher in comparison with minor chords.
Major scale music tends to sound brighter and happier while minor scale music tends to sound darker and melancholic, though chords may be altered to change their feel via inversion and their order when played this way is known as their voicing.
John Legend’s song All of Me opens with an inverted C major triad played at first inversion, altering its feel by moving from C major to F minor; major chords start on scale degree one while minors on degree two.