Major chords form the backbone of many songs and are among the first chords most music students learn to play.
Major chords consist of the first, third and fifth notes in a major scale. What separates major from minor chords is their root note distance to their third note intervals.
Definition
Chords are composed of three notes stacked together, and two of the most widely used types in music are major and minor chords. A major chord consists of the first, third and fifth notes from any scale – known as its root note; further three intervals such as major third or perfect fifth serve to define its tone as well as emotional resonance.
Major chords tend to make us happy while minor chords can bring sadness; however, their precise meaning remains complex and highly subjective. Western music listeners may associate major chords with joy or happiness while listeners of African or Asian music may not.
Major chords can be described by their three distinct notes – root, major third and perfect fifth – which come together to form them. These notes come from the major scale composed of whole steps.
Origins
Major chords refer to any collection of notes that resonate together when played together as one unit. A chord generally comprises at least three distinct tones and must contain at least two in order to qualify as such.
Major chord tones typically take their names from scale degrees that correspond with each key signature in which they occur, giving each chord its own place within its progression of chords in every key signature.
Major chords are composed of three notes–a root note, the third note and fifth of their scale degree–arranged in an octatonic triad structure. An extra chord tone above fifth note may also be added with symbols such as aug or o or aug (and occasionally written out using numbers such as #5, 7, or add13). Extended versions include Maj9 or Maj7(add9) chords which feature major seventh seventh added above their triad, more correctly called dominant seventh chords.
Functions
Understanding chord functions can be useful in crafting progressions that appeal to the listener’s ears, yet keep in mind that chord function is more of an indication than an absolute rule, and many songs deviate from it.
Function of a chord is determined by its notes and relationship to its tonic. Most diatonic chords serve one of three roles: tonic, dominant or subdominant.
Chords can also be divided into chord families based on their interval content and chord tones, so for instance a C major (C, E, G) and C minor (C, F, A) share similar intervals yet have different chord tones, thus being classified as distinct chord families.
Major chords are typically the first chords a musician encounters. Consisting of three notes (root, major third, and perfect fifth), they create an upbeat atmosphere unlike minor chords which tend to produce an emotional tone.
Variations
Chord notes have the power to alter the tone of any song; for instance, minor chords typically provide darker textures than their major counterparts.
Major chords can be enhanced by adding extra notes to their triad, for instance a seventh chord features an added note above the third which adds some moodiness and makes the chord sound darker; these types of chords are known as major-7th and minor-7 flat-5 chords and can be played in any key.
Other chord variations add sixth or ninth notes to a major scale pattern. Since fifth and sixth notes are considered major scale elements, chords containing this combination are known as dominant-sevenths (also referred to as dominant 7ths).
Learning the various major and minor chords opens doors to playing many songs, from pop ballads to classical pieces. Through practice, mastering these essential chords will enable you to express emotions musically while conveying stories that reach listeners’ hearts.