Chord Structure

What exactly is a chord? A chord is a group of two or more notes that are played together. 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.

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 contains the notes 'C', 'E' and 'G'. 'E' is the major third and 'G' is a fifth above 'C'. C-1, D-2, E-3, F-4, G-5, and so on.

In the key of F Major, the 'root' would be F, the third would be 'A', and the 'C' would be the fifth.

In the key of G Major, the 'root' would be G, the third would be 'B', and the 'D' would be the fifth.

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'