Some music pieces are entirely made of a chords structure typically in pop music [] , but also in some baroque music []. In this post, I will focus on a simple kind of chord, so we get used to the concept. I will briefly talk about harmonic intervals , since we need them to build chords. Then, I will introduce the most common kind of chord : the major chord. In this previous series of posts , we reviewed the main melodic intervals. As a reminder :. Here are 8 measures of music.
Each measure contains an harmonic interval. Could you name each one? If not, you could have a look at this post. The name of an harmonic interval is exactly the same as the corresponding melodic interval, so nothing special to mention here In the next section we'll see how intervals help us to build chords.
The concept of a chord is sometimes fuzzy, but we'll try to address all of its aspects. Let's begin with the broader definition of what a chord is [].
Lower-case Roman numerals i, ii, iii, etc. In general, Roman numerals are generally labeled below the score. Some musicians prefer to use Roman numerals only to reflect the scale-degree of the chord root.
In such cases, all Roman numerals are capital. In this textbook, we use all-capital Roman numerals to refer to chords generally, when quality does not matter. When notating specific chords with specific qualities, we will differentiate those qualities in the Roman numerals. The same is true for minor keys though I in minor is different from I in major. To build a triad on the staff, identify the root, quality, and bass note from the lead-sheet symbol.
The root and quality will tell you what three pitch classes belong to the triad. Since the quality is augmented, there is a major third above the root E and an augmented fifth above the root G-sharp.
Solution to Exercise 5. Return to Exercise. Free Tools. Other products. Back Free versions Previous versions. Back Forum Join our street team. Back Ear training. Back What is ear training? Music theory. Back Understanding basic music theory What is sight-singing?
Music Technology. Music memos. Back What are intervals in music? What are chords in music? What are chord progressions? At the moment it suffices to think of this taking the tonic of the scale as the root of the triad merely as a convenient way of generating major and minor triads.
Starting with Lesson 5, however, triads constructed in this way will come to have a special importance. Such triads are called tonic triads. Just as the tonic note of the scale is like a home base among the pitches, so the tonic triad is like a home base among the harmonies. Just as the key to telling the difference between major and minor scales was focusing on the third note of the scale, so the way to distinguish major and minor triads is to listen for the third of the triad.
To help focus on the interval between root and third, we'll take away the fifth for now, just listening to major and minor thirds as simultaneous intervals. Often we call the type of third the quality of the third; in this case the quality of the third will either be major or minor. Use the examples below to recall the difference from Lesson 1. If necessary, repeat them a few times; refresh your memory until you feel that you can tell the difference reliably. If this really presents problems, you should review Lesson 1 before proceeding.
Graphic Example 1: Major third and a minor third. Now let's add the fifth back in to make complete triads. Remember, major and minor triads with the same root have the same fifth. Even with the fifth back, try to focus on the quality of the third between the root and the third.
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