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[Overview] [Syllabus]
Using notes of the G major scale, build triads on every scale degree.
Root
The Roman Numeral indicates the scale degree of the chord root; e.g.: I, ii, iii, IV V.
Quality
Inversion
The standard chord inversion symbols indicate the inversion:
Diatonic Chords
A diatonic chord is a chord whose notes occur naturally in a given scale or key. For example, the
d Minor chord is a diatonic chord in the key of C because its notes, D F A, occur in the C Major
scale. The D Major chord, D F# A, is not a diatonic chord in the key of C because the F# does
not occur in the scale of C Major. However, the D Major chord is a diatonic chord in the keys of
D Major, G Major and A Major.
Even though this example is in C Major, the pattern of major, minor, and diminished chords is
true for all major scales.
In minor keys, we'll call a chord diatonic if its notes belong to any one of the three minor scale
types (natural, harmonic, or melodic) for that key.
Natural Minor
Even though this example is in C Natural Minor, the pattern of major, minor, and diminished
chords is true for all natural minor scales.
Even though this example is in C Harmonic Minor, the pattern of major, minor, diminished, and
augmented chords is true for all harmonic minor scales.
Even though this example is in C Melodic Minor, the pattern of major, minor, diminished, and
augmented chords is true for all melodic minor scales.
Here's a chart listing the diatonic chords in Major and the three forms of Minor. Although the
keys of C Major and C minor are used in this chart, these relationships hold true for all major and
minor keys. A flat "b" is used to indicate chords built on the third, sixth, and seventh notes of the
minor scales when that chord root differs from the major scale. For example, the iii chord in C
Major is E G B (e minor). The bIII chord in C Natural Minor is Eb G Bb (Eb Major).
I i i i
ii iiº iiº ii
IV iv iv IV
V v V V
This F Major chord occurs in several keys. It would have a different function and roman numeral
name in each key.
The F
In the key of:
chord is:
F major I
d natural minor bIII
C Major IV
c melodic minor IV
Bb major V
bb harmonic minor V
bb melodic minor V
g natural minor bVII
a harmonic minor bVI
g natural minor bVII
The I, IV, and V are the three primary chords in major keys. The i, iv, and V are the three
primary chords in minor keys. The major V chord is almost always used in minor keys. The I (i),
IV (iv), and V chords account for over 90% of all chords used in most folk, pop, rock, and blues
songs.
Every chord consists of three notes. Here are the scale notes used for the I, IV, and V chords in a
major scale and then an harmonic minor scale.
i 1 b3 5
iv 4 b6 1
V 572
Every note of the scale can be harmonized with the I, IV, and V chords.
Major Scale
If you add a minor third on top of the V chord you get the V7 chord. The chord gets its name
from the interval formed between the bottom and top notes of the chord in root position.
Naming Example
2. Root (it's E)
5. Roman Numeral for Chord Root (It's ii because the chord root is E, the second note in the D
major scale)
6. Answer: ii6
2. Scale Degree of Chord Root (The second note of the G minor scale is A.)
5. Answer:
[Overview] [Syllabus]