19/09/2025
How chords work
🎹 What is a chord?
A chord is when you play two or more notes at the same time. Most chords are built from three or more notes that sound good together.
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⚒️ How chords are built
Chords are usually formed from a scale. For example, in the C major scale (C–D–E–F–G–A–B–C), if you take every other note, you get chords:
C major (C–E–G) → the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the scale.
D minor (D–F–A) → built the same way, starting from D.
E minor (E–G–B) → starting from E.
This "1–3–5" pattern is the basic formula for building triads (three-note chords).
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🎼 Types of chords
Major chord → sounds happy/bright (C–E–G).
Minor chord → sounds sad/dark (A–C–E).
Diminished → tense, unstable (B–D–F).
Augmented → suspenseful, mysterious (C–E–G #).
Extended chords (7ths, 9ths, etc.) add extra notes for richer sounds.
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🔗 How chords work in music
Chords are not random — they relate to each other inside a key.
The I chord (tonic) feels like “home.”
The IV chord (subdominant) creates movement.
The V chord (dominant) creates tension and wants to resolve back to I.
👉 Example in C major:
C (I) → F (IV) → G (V) → C (I)
That’s the foundation of thousands of songs.
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✨ So, chords work by:
1. Being built from scales.
2. Having emotional qualities (happy, sad, tense, etc.).
3. Moving in progressions that create a story in sound.
