Friday, January 6, 2012

How to make triad chords in any scale

Chords

On any scale the triad chord is built on the 1 the 3 and the 5.

the C major scale is as follows:

C  D  E  F  G  A  B
1   2   3  4   5   6   7

so using the rule 1, 3 and 5 the C chord is C E G

if we want to make a chord on another chord in the scale then we make the root note the 1. For instance, if we want to make a chord on G then the diagram is as follows:


C  D  E  F  G  A  B
4   5   6  7   1   2  3

using the 1 3 5 rule a G chord is G B D

The rule is the same for Minor scales


For example the C minor scale can be deduced form the C major scale by flattening the 3rd, 6th and 7th notes of the scale, which makes the C Minor scale as follows



C  D   Eb   F   G   Ab   Bb
1   2    3     4    5     6     7

So a C chord is now C Eb G (1 3 and 5)


if we want to make a chord on F

C   D   Eb   F   G   Ab   Bb
5    6    7     1    2     3     4

so the F chord in the C minor scale is F Ab C

is it a Major or Minor chord?

This is easy using Roman Numerals.

If the roman numeral is capitalised then its a Major Chord, if its not then its a Minor Chord.

So in any Major Scale the notation is as follows:


1 2 3 4 5 6 7
I ii iii IV V vi vii


so if we take the C Major scale


C D E F G A B



C is a Major chord, D is a minor chord, E is a minor chord, F is a Major chord and so on.



If its a Minor Scale then the Major chords sit in a different place.


These are as follows


1 2 3 4 5 6 7

i ii IV iv V VI VII


Yes. Minor Scales have more Major chords in them than Major Scales


So taking the A minor scale


A B C D E F G


A is a minor Chord (A C E)

B is a minor chord (B D F)

C is a Major Chord (C E G)

D is a minor chord (D F A)

E is a Major chord (E G B)

F is a Major chord (F A C)

G is a Major chord (G B D)