Chords & Harmony

Music Tech || MT CA3 - Musical Elements, Style, and Technology

What is harmony?

The chords used in a piece of music; it describes the relationship between the notes in a chord.

How do we build a chord?

• We take the 1^st note in the chord

• We then take the 3^rd and 5^th notes on from our 1^st note (from the scale)

Which chords in a Major key are major, minor, or diminished?

• Chords I, IV, and V are always Major

• Chords ii, iii, and vi are always minor

• Chord VII is always diminished

What does the interval between notes of a chord determine?

Whether the chord is major or minor.

What is a common major key chord progression used in countless popular songs?

I, V, vi, IV

What are extended chords?

When you take a primary triad (3 note) chord and add additional notes.

What are 7^th chords?

When a note of an interval of a 7^th is added above the 1^st note of the chord

How do you build a Major 7^th Chord?

1^st note || Major 3^rd (+4 semitones) || Perfect 5^th (+7 semitones) || Major 7^th (+11 semitones)

How do you build Dominant 7^th chords?

1^st note || Major 3^rd (+4 semitones) || Perfect 5^th (+7 semitones) || Flattened 7^th (+10 semitones)

How do you build a Minor 7^th chord?

1st note || minor 3^rd (+3 semitones) || Perfect 5^th (+7 semitones) || minor 7^th (+10 semitones)

What are suspended chords?

When the major or minor 3^rd is removed and replaced with a perfect fourth or a major second

What is the chord called if the 3^rd note is replaced with a Perfect fourth?

• The chord is a Suspended 4^th or (Sus4)

• Perfect 4^th (5 semitones)

What is the chord called if the 3^rd note is replaced with a Major second?

• The chord is a Suspended 2^nd or (Sus2)

• Major 2^nd (2 semitones)

Why are suspended chords used?

They’re a good way of developing simple harmony and creates tension and resolution around a chord.

What are augmented chords?

When the last note of a major triad (5^th of the scale) is raised by a semitone.

What are augmented chords also known as?

Chromatic chords, as they do not fit into the given key.

What are diminished chords?

When the 3^th and 5^th note of a chord are flattened by a semitone.

How do diminished chords sound like?

Very unstable, even more so than a minor chord.