Music Theory: Lesson 6

Building Three Note Chords

By Zack Cart

 

Prerequisites:

You should be able to understand and perform the concepts and techniques outlined in the following lessons before attempting this lesson:

Music Theory: Lessons 1-5

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Using our knowledge of basic Intervals, we have learned to create keys and scales from the the 12 pitches of Traditional Western music. In this lesson, we will use that same knowledge of intervals to create four different types of three-note chord commonly found in Western Music.

 

Major and minor chords account for most of the three note chords in general use. The terms are likely familiar to you. However there are also the sparingly used diminished chords, and the even rarer augmented chords. All of these chords will contain three notes. Three note chords are known as "triads."

 

With all of these chords, each of the three notes will have a specific name.

There will be a note called the Root, from which the chord will dervive it's letter name. (For example, C Major, C minor, and C diminished all have the note C as their Root.) The root will frequently be abreviated as 1.

There will be a note called the Third, which will be found at an interval of either a major or minor third above the root. Whether the third is major or minor will help determine the chord type. The third is frequently abreviated as 3.

There will be a note called the Fifth, which will be found at an interval of either a perfect, augmented, or diminished fifth above the root note.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Major chords have a Root, a third which is a major third above the root, and a fifth which is a perfect fifth above the root. Refer back to Music Theory: Lesson 4 - The Simple Intervals, if need be.

For a example, a C major chord will have a C as the root, an E as the (major) third, and a G as the (perfect) fifth.

 

Minor chords have a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth. For example, a C minor chord will have a C as the root, an Eb as the (minor) third, and a G as the (perfect) fifth.

 

Diminished chords have a root, a minor third, and a diminished fifth. For example, a C diminished chord will have a C as the root, an Eb as the (minor) third, and a Gb as the (diminished) fifth.

 

Augmented chords have a root, a major third, and an augmented fifth. For example, a C minor chord will have a C as the root, an E as the (major) third, and a G# as the (augmented) fifth.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Occasionally, in naming these chords, we will have to make use of two new accidentals; the double sharp, and the double flat. As their name implies, a double sharp works as an additional sharp, and a double flat as an additional flat.

 

Thus, a C double sharp (abreviated Cx) will be one half step higher than a C#, or two half steps (one whole step) higher than C. It is actually the same note as D, just with a different name.

 

An E double flat, (abbreviated Ebb) will function similarly. It is a half step lower than Eb, or two half steps, (one whole step) lower than E. It is the same note as D, named differently.

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Below is a chart of all the major, minor, and diminished triads, while this may be a useful reference, I urge you to learn the method behind the structures of the triads, and not rely overly on this crutch.

 

Root	Diminished Root Minor 3 Diminished 5	Minor Root Minor 3 Perfect 5	Major Root Major 3 Perfect 5	Augmented Root Major 3 Augmented 5
C	C, Eb, Gb	C, Eb, G	C, E, G	C, E, G#
C#	C#, E, G	C#, E, G#	C#, E#, G#	C#, E#, Gx
Db	Db, Fb, Abb	Db, Fb, Ab	Db, F, Ab	Db, F, A
D	D, Fbb, Ab	D, Fbb, A	D, F#, A	D, F#, A#
D#	D#, F#, A	D#, F#, A#	D#, Fx, A#	D#, Fx, Ax
Eb	Eb, Gb, Bbb	Eb, Gb, Bb	Eb, G, Bb	Eb, G, B
E	E, G, Bb	E, G, B	E, G#, B	E, G#, B#
F	F, Ab, Cb	F, Ab, C	F, A, C	F, A, C#
F#	F#, A, C	F#, A, C#	F#, A#, C#	F#, A#, Cx
Gb	Gb, Bbb, Dbb	Gb, Bbb, Db	Gb, Bb, Db	Gb, Bb, D
G	G, Bb, Db	G, Bb, D	G, B, D	G, B, D#
G#	G#, B, D	G#, B, D#	G#, B#, D#	G#, B#, Dx
Ab	Ab, Cb, Ebb	Ab, Cb, Eb	Ab, C, Eb	Ab, C, E
A	A, C, Eb	A, C, E	A, C#, E	A, C#, E#
A#	A#, C#, E	A#, C#, E#	A#, Cx, E#	A#, Cx, Ex
Bb	Bb, Db, Fb	Bb, Db, F	Bb, D, F	Bb, D, F#
B	B, D, F	B, D, F#	B, D#, F#	B, D#, Fx

 

 

Also, as with previous lessons, practice writing these chords out on paper, practice playing the chords which you have written; practice playing chords, and practice writing out the chords which you have played. Be diligent, hardworking, and detailed in your practice, work for a strong familiarity and understanding, not merely a basic, vague conceptualization of the topic at hand.