Spelling Basic Chords

Spelling chords is quite similar to spelling scales, though a bit easier. To make a full chord, you need three notes: The root, 3 rd and 5th. o!e"er, !hen talking about building chords, it#s often easier to refer to them through scale degrees, !hich here !ould be the $, 3 and 5.

&a'or -nter"als . Scale /egrees . 0otes &inor -nter"als . Scale /egrees . 0otes

%oot &a' (nd &a' 3rd )er *th )er 5th &a' +th &a' ,th

. . . . . . .

$ ( 3 * 5 + ,

. . . . . . .

C / 1 2 3 4 B

%oot &a' (nd &in 3rd )er *th )er 5th &in +th &in ,th

. . . . . . .

$ ( 3 * 5 + ,

. . . . . . .

C / 1b 2 3 4b Bb

4s mentioned abo"e, chords are built !ith the $, 3, and 5. 5hat determines if a chord is ma'or or minor is !hether scale degree 3 is a ma'or or minor 3rd. 4 more direct !ay to look at it is that a chord is built !ith t!o thirds. -n a ma'or chord, first is a ma'or 3rd and then a minor 3rd. -n a minor chord it#s a minor 3rd then a ma'or 3rd. 5hile using the chromatic counting, the magic numbers are * and 3 half steps6chromatic notes. 2or e7ample, to make a couple of C and 4 chords !ith the chromatic !heel to the right...

C &a'or:
1: 3: 5:
Major 3rd/ 4 steps

C &inor: C 1 3
1: 3: 5:
Minor 3rd/ 3 steps

4 &a'or: C
1:
Major 3rd/ 4 steps

4 &inor: 4
1:
Minor 3rd/ 3 steps

4 C 1

Minor 3 / 3 steps

rd

Major 3 / 4 steps

rd

1b 3: 3
5:

Minor 3 / 3 steps

rd

C8 3: 1
5:

Major 3rd/ 4 steps

&a'or and &inor are the most common chords, ho!e"er there are t!o other basic three9note chords. 2irst is #diminished#, built !ith t!o minor thirds. 0e7t is #augmented,# built !ith t!o ma'or thirds. Spellings in C and 4:

C /iminished: C 1b 3b

C 4ugmented: C 1 38

4 4ugmented: 4 C8 18

4 /iminished: 4 C 1b