Major chord progressions are one of the most widely-used in music. Major chords usually convey feelings of happiness and optimism.
Chords can be built using any scale by adding root, major third and perfect fifth notes as chord constituents. This method can be applied in any key.
Scales
Scales are one of the cornerstones of tonal music. Two important examples are major scale and minor scale.
Major chords consist of three notes – a root note (which gives it its name), followed by two other notes located four frets above and three frets above that first note respectively. Each interval between them can be described using H or W letters for half step or whole step respectively.
Major chords consist of three notes that may be arranged vertically in any order – they don’t need to be C, E and G as long as they all exist within C major’s key signature. A major chord can also have an augmented fifth or diminished fifth note which will alter its sound.
The same system for creating chords from scale degrees can be applied to any major key and even to pentatonic scale, which contains only five notes. Furthermore, it works with modes – variations on major scale that begin on any of seven scale degrees – as well as modes.
Triads
A triad is a chord composed of three notes. However, not all chords qualify as triads – power chords don’t count! In Figure 13, D major’s key signature shows this concept perfectly; major third interval between root and third is what defines major triads; mi, do, and ti (2, 3, 7…) can also serve as major or minor ones depending on where their composition begins; dore sol resol (1 4 5 6) constitute major triads while mi do do and ti (2 3, 3, and 7 respectively) constitute minor versions.
A triad can be composed in many different ways on a music sheet. Its notes can be stacked vertically or arranged in various orders called inversions; also called root position; major, minor, diminished and augmented triads exist. A C major triad, for instance, can be played either with its root in bottom position or fifth note at bottom inversion (second inversion).
Inversions
Chord inversions add a fresh dimension to the chords you play, helping prevent your music from sounding monotonous or linear. They’re an invaluable skill to master and can be applied both major and minor chords.
Some chords will be inverted, meaning the tonic note has been moved up an octave from its usual position. You can recognize these types of chords by their notation – for instance C/E would indicate an inverted C chord where the tonic note has been moved two frets higher so your first finger falls on the fifth fret instead of fourth).
Other chords may be inverted by replacing the third of a triad with a sixth note — this produces a major seventh chord and can often be found in popular songs, where it is commonly known as Csus2; chord charts also often display this notation CM7 for easier reference. Any major chord can also have its third replaced with either major second (Csus2) or, less frequently, perfect fourths (Csus4) to form suspended chords that may also appear suspended chords like Csus2.
Chord Progression
Chord progressions use chords in a key to create musical atmosphere and mood. A song set in a major key may elicit feelings of happiness and upbeatness while one in minor may bring on sadness or melancholy feelings. Each key has a specific pattern defining it with respect to chord progression – for instance the IV and V chords in C major are both major, while following them are three minor chords (iii, vi and vii in that case), creating tension which is relieved with tonic or dominant chord addition.
No matter if you’re writing pop, rock, or EDM songs – there are a few essential chord progressions all musicians should use when writing songs. These progressions rely on mathematical relationships between chords in a key, as well as four’s prevalence as most songs contain phrases with divisible rhythmic structures containing four beats each.