Basic Chords

If you play three or more notes together it is called a chord. The most basic chord is called a triad. We'll start with a C triad, since we are familiar with the C major scale. A triad is made up of three notes. If we start with C, skip the D and add an E, skip the F and add a G, that makes a C major triad. So the notes of the C major triad are C, E, and G. A triad is made up of the first, third, and fifth notes of a scale.

Let's take the second note of the scale, D. Play the D, skip E, play F, skip G, play A. So we have D, F, A. Notice the two chords sound different. C sounds kind of happy, triumphant even. The D we just played sounds more sad. That is because the D chord made from the C major scale is a D minor. Minor chords have more of a solemn feel to them. Let's continue on building chords in the C major scale.

E minor is made with E, G, B. The next chord, F major is F, A C. That is followed by G major, G, B, D. Next comes A minor, A, C, E. The B chord that is formed by the C major scale is a new type of chord. It is neither major nor minor. It is played B, D, F and is a B diminished chord. A diminished chord consists of two minor thirds stacked on top of one another.

Play a C major, D minor, and B diminished back to back with one another. Listen to how the three different types of chords sound. This training of the ear is an important part of picking out chords in songs, and choosing them for your own compositions. Practice playing the chords you've learned today in random order. In the next lesson we'll talk about intervals. Don't forget to stop by the piano lessons section of PianoLessons.com for more educational videos.