Music Theory: Major Scale Chord Qualities

This set covers the relationship between major scale degrees and their associated chord qualities, including the seven standard scale degrees and the specific memory pattern of their qualities.

The 1 of Major Key (Tonic)

Major ( I )

The 2 of Major Key (Supertonic)

Minor ( ii )

The 3 of Major Key (Mediant)

Minor ( iii )

The 4 of Major Key (Subdominant)

Major ( IV )

The 5 of Major Key (Dominant)

Major ( V )

The 6 of Major Key (Submediant)

Minor ( vi )

The 7 of Major Key (Leading Tone)

Diminished ( vii° )

Major Scale Memory Pattern

Major ( I ) – Minor ( ii) – Minor ( iii ) – Major ( VI ) – Major ( V ) – Minor ( iv ) – Diminished ( vii° )

Major Key: What is the 1 chord?

1 = Major ( I )

Major Key: What is the 2 chord?

2 = Minor ( ii )

Major Key: What is the 3 chord?

3 = Minor ( iii )

Major Key: What is the 4 chord?

4 = Major ( IV )

Major Key: What is the 5 chord?

5 = Major ( V )

Major Key: What is the 6 chord?

6 = Minor ( vi )

Major Key: What is the 7 chord?

7° = Diminished ( vii° )

Major Key: What is the 1?

1 = Tonic ( I ) (“Home”)

Major Key: What is the 2?

2 = Supertonic ( ii )

Major Key: What is the 3?

3 = Mediant ( iii )

Major Key: What is the 4?

4 = Subdominant ( IV )

Major Key: What is the 5?

5 = Dominant ( V )

Major Key: What is the 6?

6 = Submediant ( vi )

Major Key: What is the 7?

7° = Leading Tone ( vii° )

Major Chord Function: What does the 1 chord feel like?

( I ) = Home, rest, resolution

Major Chord Function: What does the 2m chord usually do?

( ii ) = Starts movement, often leads to the 5

Major Chord Function: What does the 3m chord feel like?

( iii ) = Gentle, reflective, connects to the 6m

Major Chord Function: What does the 4 chord do?

( IV ) = Opens up, creates lift, prepares the 5 or returns to the 1

Major Chord Function: What does the 5 chord do?

( V ) = Creates tension and wants to resolve to the 1

Major Chord Function: What does the 6m chord feel like?

( vi ) = Emotional, introspective, relative minor

Major Chord Function: What does the 7° chord do?

( vii° ) = Strong tension; resolves to the 1

C Major Scale

C ( I ) - D ( ii ) - E ( iii ) - F ( IV ) - G ( V ) - A ( vi ) - B ( vii°)

C Major Scale: How many SHARPS / FLATS?

0 Sharps / 0 Flats

C Major Chords (Degree / Numeral / Note / Chord / Notes In Chord)

C Major: What chord is built on the 1st degree?

C (C - E - G) [ I ]

C Major: What chord is built on the 2nd degree?

Dm (D - F - A) [ ii ]

C Major: What chord is built on the 3rd degree?

Em (E - G - B) [ iii ]

C Major: What chord is built on the 4th degree?

F (F - A - C) [ IV ]

C Major: What chord is built on the 5th degree?

G (G - B - D) [ V ]

C Major: What chord is built on the 6th degree?

Am (A - C - E) [ vi ]

C Major: What chord is built on the 7th degree?

Bdim (B - D - F) [ vii° ]

C Major: What notes are in a C chord?

C ( I ) = C - E - G

C Major: What notes are in a Dm chord?

Dm ( ii ) = D - F - A

C Major: What notes are in a Em chord?

Em ( iii ) = E - G - B

C Major: What notes are in a F chord?

F ( VI ) = F - A - C

C Major: What notes are in a G chord?

G ( V ) = G - B - D

C Major: What notes are in a Am chord?

Am ( vi ) = A - C - E

C Major: What notes are in a Bdim chord?

Bdim ( vii° ) = B - D - F

C Major: What’s the 1 chord?

( I ) = C (C - E - G)

C Major: What’s the 2 chord?

( ii ) = Dm (D - F - A)

C Major: What’s the 3 chord?

( iii ) = Em (E - G - B)

C Major: What’s the 4 chord?

( IV ) = F (F - A - C)

C Major: What’s the 5 chord?

( V ) = G (G - B - D)

C Major: What’s the 6 chord?

( vi ) = Am (A - C - E)

C Major: What’s the 7 chord?

( vii° ) = Bdim (B - D - F)

C Major Chords: What number is C?

C = 1 or ( I )

C Major Chords: What number is Dm?

Dm = 2m or ( ii )

C Major Chords: What number is Em?

Em = 3m or ( iii )

C Major Chords: What number is F?

F = 4 or ( IV )

C Major Chords: What number is G?

F = 5 or ( V )

C Major Chords: What number is Am?

Am = 6m or ( vi )

C Major Chords: What number is Bdim?

Bdim = 7° or ( vii° )

G Major Scale

G ( I ) - A ( ii ) - B ( iii ) - C ( IV ) - D ( V ) - E ( vi ) - F#dim ( vii°)

G Major Scale: How many SHARPS / FLATS?

1 Sharp / 0 Flats

G Major Chords (Degree / Numeral / Note / Chord / Notes In Chord)

D Major Scale

D ( I ) - E ( ii ) - F# ( iii ) - G ( IV ) - A ( V ) - B ( vi ) - C#dim ( vii°)

D Major Scale: How many SHARPS / FLATS?

2 Sharps / 0 Flats

D Major Chords (Degree / Numeral / Note / Chord / Notes In Chord)

A Major Scale

A ( I ) - B ( ii ) - C# ( iii ) - D ( IV ) - E ( V ) - F# ( vi ) - G#dim ( vii°)

A Major Scale: How many SHARPS / FLATS?

3 Sharps / 0 Flats

A Major Chords (Degree / Numeral / Note / Chord / Notes In Chord)

E Major Scale

E ( I ) - F# ( ii ) - G# ( iii ) - A ( IV ) - B ( V ) - C# ( vi ) - D#dim ( vii°)

E Major Scale: How many SHARPS / FLATS?

4 Sharps / 0 Flats

E Major Chords (Degree / Numeral / Note / Chord / Notes In Chord)

B Major Scale

B ( I ) - C# ( ii ) - D# ( iii ) - E ( IV ) - F# ( V ) - G# ( vi ) - A#dim ( vii° )

B Major Scale: How many SHARPS / FLATS?

5 Sharps / 0 Flats

B Major Chords (Degree / Numeral / Note / Chord / Notes In Chord)

B Major: What key has the same sound but different spelling? Hint: What’s the enharmonic key?

Cb Major

F# Major Scale

F# ( I ) - G# ( ii ) - A# ( iii ) - B ( IV ) - C# ( V ) - D# ( vi ) - E#dim ( vii° )

F# Major Scale: How many SHARPS / FLATS?

6 Sharps / 0 Flats