Chords
Definition
When two or more notes are sounded together.
Description
When two or more notes are sounded together. Type of chords e.g. major, minor, jazz chords with 7ths, b5ths etc
Most chords can be described in two ways:
- Consonance - pleasant sounding, resolved
- Dissonance - which can be tense, or even jarring
Types of Chords
dyad – 2 notes
triad – 3-notes
also see: Intervals
Essential
- major (e.g. IV)
- refer to interval major third, perfect fifth is implied
- minor (e.g. iv)
- refer to interval minor third, perfect fifth is implied
- diminished (e.g. ivº)
- refer to interval diminished fifth, minor third is implied
- augmented (e.g. IV+)
- refer to interval augmented fifth, major third is implied
| name | intervals | e.g. | semitone gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| major | M3,P5 | C - C,E,G,C | 4,3,5 |
| minor | m3,P5 | Cm - C,E♭,G,C | 3,4,5 |
| diminished | m3,d5 | Cdim - C,E♭,G♭,C | 3,3,6 |
| augmented | M3,A5 | Caug - C,E,G♯,C | 4,4,4 |
Additional numbers
- If added number is 2/4/6 – chord has a major added tone M2/M4/M6
- If added number is 7/9/11/13 – chord is dominant and contains m7/M9/P11/M13
Seventh chords
| name | intervals | e.g. | semitone gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| major | M3,P5 | C - C,E,G,C | 4,3,5 |
| major seventh | M3,P5,M7 | CM7- C,E,G,B | 4,3,4 |
| dominant seventh | M3,P5,m7 | G7 - G,B,D,F | 4,3,3 |
| name | intervals | e.g. | semitone gaps |
|---|---|---|---|
| minor | m3,P5 | Am - A,C,E,A | 3,4,5 |
| minor seventh | m3,P5,m7 | Am7 - A,C,D,G | 3,4,3 |