1. Chords Review & Progressions I
HS Spring 2017

2. Melody & Chords A basic song is made up of two parts:
Melody Part (singer)
Harmony Part (piano, guitar, back-up singers, etc.)
The simplest kind of harmony is chords

3. Chords
A chord is the basic unit of harmony; usually 3 notes a skip apart played at the same time.
A chord gets its name from its lowest note (when in root position).
C chord
F chord
B chord

4. Chord Tonalities
There are four main kinds of chords. Any of them can be built off of any note.
Major
Minor
Augmented
Diminished
Each chord tonality has its own sound and “feel” that it can bring to a song.

5. “Natural Chords”
Songs usually use the chords that are “natural” to its key. (No added #’s or b’s) The natural chords are built off each step of the scale.
Roman numerals show the chord name & tonality. They are the same for any major key. (Upper case = major, lower case = minor, “°” = diminished)
I (maj.)
ii (min.)
iii (min.)
IV (maj.)
V (maj.)
vi (min.)
vii° (dim.)
I (maj.)

6. “Natural Chords”
Although the tonalities of a Roman numeral chord is the same in any major key, the actual chord played shifts according to the key.
C Maj.
D Min.
E Min.
F Maj.
G Maj.
A Min.
B Dim.
C Maj.
D Maj.
E Min.
F# Min.
G Maj.
A Maj.
B Min.
C# Dim.
D Maj.

7. Playing Chords on the Piano
C Major
C Maj. = C – E – G
D Min. = D – F – A
E Min. = E – G – B
F Maj. = F – A – C
G Maj. = G – B – D
A Min. = A – C – E
B Dim. = B – D – F
D Major
D Maj. = D – F# – A
E Min. = E – G – B
F# Min. = F# – A – C#
G Maj. = G – B – D
A Maj. = A – C# – E
B Min. = B – D – F#
C# Dim. = C# – E – G

8. Chord Alterations
Although most chords used in songs are “natural” to the key, they don’t have to be.
Extended Chords: Chords that have additional skips added to the top. (7th, 9th, 11th chords)
D Maj.
D Maj.7
D Maj.9
D Maj.11

9. Chord Alterations
Although most chords used in songs are “natural” to the key, they don’t have to be.
Borrowed Chords: Chords that use notes that are not “natural” to the key
D Maj.
E Maj.
B Min.