At the end of the day, music is a matter of taste. If you like the sound of a particular chord progression then go with it. What I show you on this page is not a rule that must be followed and there are uncountable songs that don't follow this system and are great songs. In fact, many songs stand out precisely because they don't follow this system!
What I am giving you here is a simple way to work out a set of chords that particularly compliment each other - easy to understand music theory for guitarists.
If you're new to song writing, this could be a good place to start.
By using this system, you can easily work out a set of seven chords for any key that you wish to play in. By familiarising yourself with the resulting pattern, you will improve your ability to work out how to play songs that you hear.
Within the section "How to work out scales" I showed you how to establish the major scale for any particular key. I also mentioned that chords can be built up from the notes of a scale - giving a series of chords which relate to a key and sound harmonious when played together. The process through which these chords are derived is called "harmonising".
Harmonising The Major Scale
Below is the C major scale, written in musical notation. The notes are written on a stave, which has five lines separated by four spaces. Each line/space represents a note-value (indicated on the far right of the diagram). Click here to listen to the C major scale.
To harmonise the scale we take a note (eg C) and add the third note from it (eg E). We then add the third note from that (eg G). This gives us three notes (the minimum required for a chord) which when played together form a chord (eg C major).
We then repeat this process with each of the notes from the scale. This gives us a group of chords, built on each note of the scale; using only notes from the scale.
Below the Cmajor scale is the harmonised C major scale, written in musical notation.
Click here to listen to the resulting chords.
NOTE: Play any combination of these chords and you can be said to be playing in the key of C major.
The resulting chords are (from left to right):
If this is all new to you then it may seem a little confusing, however you need only remember this pattern:
So what does that do for you? Well, take any major scale and add this pattern and the result is a set of seven chords that compliment each other; whichever order they are played in.
For example, take the G major scale - G, A, B, C, D, E, F# . Add the pattern above and you have your seven chords:
Furthermore, this can help you to work out how to play songs - as many songs use chords that can be established by following this system. For example, if a song is in the key of G major it is likely to have a C major in it and a D major is also likely.
Want to learn more?
The resulting chords are (from left to right):
C major
D minor
E minor
F major
G major
A minor
B diminished
C major (an octave higher than the first C major)
E minor
F major
G major
A minor
B diminished
C major (an octave higher than the first C major)
If this is all new to you then it may seem a little confusing, however you need only remember this pattern:
Major, Minor, Minor, Major, Major, Minor, Diminished
So what does that do for you? Well, take any major scale and add this pattern and the result is a set of seven chords that compliment each other; whichever order they are played in.
For example, take the G major scale - G, A, B, C, D, E, F# . Add the pattern above and you have your seven chords:
G major
A minor
B minor
C major
D major
E minor
F# diminished
A minor
B minor
C major
D major
E minor
F# diminished
Furthermore, this can help you to work out how to play songs - as many songs use chords that can be established by following this system. For example, if a song is in the key of G major it is likely to have a C major in it and a D major is also likely.
Want to learn more?
Try harmonising a major scale to four notes and discover jazz!
Harmonise different types of scales and see which chords result.
Checkout my 'Modes - What?' and 'Modes - Where?' pages.
Harmonise different types of scales and see which chords result.
Checkout my 'Modes - What?' and 'Modes - Where?' pages.