Music written using chord symbols provides you with a roadmap of what type of chord to build to accompany a song melody. Chords can be formed by adding intervals or scale notes over and above their root note.
To create a major chord, find its root note, then move up three keys (black and white) until reaching the third, followed by another two onward to its fifth tone.
Major Triads
Triads are the foundation of Western harmony. They’re usually three half steps apart – C-E-G for instance – with one note lower than another creating what’s called a minor triad; when that middle note rises above all three it’s known as major triad.
Triadic qualities do not change when moving a chord up or down a scale (this will be covered in Chapter 9, Inversion and Figured Bass). To identify a triad, take note of its intervals: between bottom notes (major third), middle notes (major third) and top notes (minor third).
To find the root of a chord, start counting up from the lowest note in your scale – say C – counting each note up until E becomes part of a C Major triad that you can recreate in any key. Take some time practicing these four triads; they’ll help you understand all of the other chords discussed in this book more readily.
Minor Triads
Triad chords are one of the simplest types of chords and can be used across a variety of musical genres and styles. Triads can be defined as any three-note chord that can be broken into thirds for easier playing than more complex chords such as major 7th chords.
Minor triads are similar to major triads in that both lower two notes are separated by a minor third and higher notes by a major one. If you already know CAGED major triad shapes, learning the minor versions should be straightforward, simply switching out major for minor thirds.
As with major triads, you can use enharmonic equivalence to identify minor triads. It is important to keep in mind that white notes built into different triads may vary greatly in sound depending on their number of semitones (half steps), thus it is essential that all strings learn all possible triad shapes.
Major 7ths
The major 7th is a popular chord in pop music and jazz alike, known for its beautiful sound that adds vibrancy and presence to songs. You’ll often find this chord used with rhythm guitar arrangements.
For an easy way to form this chord, simply play a major triad followed by adding one half step below its root note – for instance if you wanted to play C Major 7th (CMaj7) you would first play C, E and G as the major triad before adding B as its 7th note.
Minor 7th chords can be created using the same technique; all that differs is that their third note (the root note) is lowered so they form a minor triad with a minor 7th. These chords are commonly known as half-diminished, minorminor-major, or diminished 7ths; their warm sound adds depth and richness to any song and are frequently featured in ballads and love songs.
Minor 7ths
As you work to learn these chords, make sure that your posture and fulcrum are optimized. Be sure to keep your legs shoulder width apart, your chest open, and arms relaxed by your side – this will enable the most consistent xylophone playing, giving music an exceptional sound!
Take an A major 7th chord and lower both its third and seventh notes by one half step each, to create an A minor 7th chord which can be played using the 1 – 4 – 5 pattern in both hands.
Minor seven flat five chords offer another variation on a 7th chord that can be played in similar fashion to its regular version – simply add a minor seventh to your C major triad to get this dark and dramatic sound! Useful solo for certain situations!