Note Reading

What exactly is a chord? A chord is a group of two or more notes. You can play them together at the same time or individually. The most common types of chords are Major and Minor. Major chords sound bright, while minor chords are a little darker sounding. The notes contained in chords originate from scales; the most common type of scale is the Major Scale. There are both "blocked" chords (notes of the chord played simultaneously) and "open" chords (notes of the chord played individually). This lesson will deal with blocked chords.

A Major Chord contains the root (or tonic) of the chord, a major third and a fifth. To determine the root, third, and fifth notes count the notes of the scale beginning with the first note.

In the key of C Major, the C Major chord is made up of the root C, the third E, and the fifth G.

In the key of F Major, the F Major chord is made up of the root F, the third A, and the fifth C.

In the key of G Major, the G Major chord is made up of the root G, the third B, and the fifth D.

It doesn't matter which one of the notes of the Major chord you begin with. We will learn the names of the chords that begin with different notes in 'Chord Inversions'

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