Mark Henderson answered
A chord is a collection of two or more notes that are being played simultaneously. The word chord is a short form of accord, taken from the Middle English word cord.
The main types of chord are minor and major chords. When the notes of a chord are played in succession and not simultaneously, they are known as arpeggios.
The most common chords are known as triads.
In a major triad the chord consists of the root note (first note) the third note and the fifth note of the scale. The third note determines whether a chord is a major or minor. For example, the chord C major consists of the root, third and fifth of the C major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C). Which means in a C major chord the notes C E and G are played together.
Apart from the Major and Minor chords, there are also numerous other types of chord, all of which are built from the root note and its scale.
Types of Chords
- Major triad
- Minor triad
- Augmented triad
- Diminished triad
- Diminished seventh
- Half-diminished seventh
- Minor seventh
- Minor major seventh
- Dominant seventh
- Major seventh
- Augmented seventh
- Augmented major seventh
- Dominant ninth
- Dominant eleventh
- Dominant thirteenth
Playing different chords one after the other is known as a chord progression; and the chords in the progression are selected for their desired effect on the mood of the song. For example, more happier upbeat songs will tend to feature more major chords, whereas a melancholy song will have more minor chords.
The main types of chord are minor and major chords. When the notes of a chord are played in succession and not simultaneously, they are known as arpeggios.
The most common chords are known as triads.
In a major triad the chord consists of the root note (first note) the third note and the fifth note of the scale. The third note determines whether a chord is a major or minor. For example, the chord C major consists of the root, third and fifth of the C major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C). Which means in a C major chord the notes C E and G are played together.
Apart from the Major and Minor chords, there are also numerous other types of chord, all of which are built from the root note and its scale.
Types of Chords
- Major triad
- Minor triad
- Augmented triad
- Diminished triad
- Diminished seventh
- Half-diminished seventh
- Minor seventh
- Minor major seventh
- Dominant seventh
- Major seventh
- Augmented seventh
- Augmented major seventh
- Dominant ninth
- Dominant eleventh
- Dominant thirteenth
Playing different chords one after the other is known as a chord progression; and the chords in the progression are selected for their desired effect on the mood of the song. For example, more happier upbeat songs will tend to feature more major chords, whereas a melancholy song will have more minor chords.
