Salford Piano Studio
Chords are three or more notes played at the same time.
Think of it this way:
- Note – 1
- Interval – 2
- Chord – 3 and above
The most common chord is built on Thirds.
The Triad
The Triad is made of two Thirds stacked one on top of the other.
For example, a Third from C is an E, and a Third from E is a G.
Put together, we have a Triad Chord: C–E–G.
Now that we know Triads are built on Thirds, it’s actually more useful to think of them as a 3rd and a 5th. This will help us analyse and identify the different Triad Qualities.
Try it on your piano or online keyboard:
Chord Qualities
There are four chord qualities:
- Major
- Minor
- Augmented
- Diminished
Let’s take them one by one.
Major Chord
The Major Chord is built on a Major Third.
It is made of:
- Major 3rd
- Perfect 5th
Minor Chord
The Minor Chord is built on a Minor 3rd, therefore its name.
It is made of:
- Minor 3rd
- Perfect 5th
Augmented Chord
The Augmented Chord has an Augmented Fifth.
It is made of:
- Major 3rd
- Augmented 5th
Diminished Chord
The Diminished Chord has a Diminished 5th.
It is made of:
- Minor 3rd
- Augmented 5th
Musical Examples
Beethoven Sonata
Beethoven’s 9th piano sonata starts with a Major Chord (Major Triad) in the left hand.
E – G♯– B
