Some chords contain stable notes. Some contain unstable notes.

As a result, some chords are more stable than others.

Tonic function chords

Tonic Major 1 = 1 3 5
It contains all three stable notes. The Tonic can also be the 1 note.

Tonic Function
minor 6 = 6 1 3
minor 3 = 3 5 7
These chords contain two stable notes.

minor 3 is less stable than minor 6 because of 7 (The leading tone wants to resolve to 1)
The minor 6th or minor 3rd chords change function depending on where they're located in a chord progression.
The minor 6 can easily become the tonic. This happens when Major switches to minor.

See HARMONIC CHOICES (not made yet, sorry, 2/23/16)

-most similar- smoothness least similar
vi and 3 as chameleons.

Subdominant chords

Major 4 = 4 6 1
minor 2 = 2 4 6

They contain less stable notes.

minor 2 is less stable then Major 4 because it contains the 2 and 4 and no stable notes.

Dominant

Major 5 = 5 7 2
Diminished 7th = 7 2 4

These chords want to resolve. They dominate the chord progression.

Major 5 is less stable because it contains 7 and 2.

Major 5 resolves to Major 1 because of 7 (The Leading Tone) and the relationship of 5 to the root note (1 or tonic).
See Overtones

Diminished 7 is least stable because it contains the most unstable tones, 7 2 4.

It resolves to Chord 1, because of 7 and because the natural resolution of 7 2 4 is 1 3 5. *
Diminished 7 also has a b5 instead of a 5. This interval is called the Tritone. It's the most unstable interval
and "requires" resolution to Chord 1.

* This differs from the natural resolution of each note. This is the natural resolution for the chord.

Chords relative to themselves

Imagine that these seven chords are planets in a solar system. They all revolve around the sun (Major 1). The sun is the tonic.
However, each chord is a separate planet. It's stable to itself, with orbital systems of it's own.

Each chord by itself, is stable. (with the exception of diminished 7)

If you play the Major 5 chord, it won't sound tense until you define it as the Dominant 7 Major 5 chord by playing more
chords.
If you avoid doing that, it will sound very stable, because it's a Major chord.

Major Triad = 1 3 5 Minor Triad = 1 b3 5

I don’t consider mathematical relationships as I compose. “If I play root, 3rd, 5th, I instantly know what that is,
because I was trained to…It’s possible that some of the things are starting out mathematically, but it’s quite
automatic now.”
-Joe Satriani

Next page: Major and minor

Last page: Chord building