MUSIC 101: Fundamentals of Music
LESSON 11: Major chords/Major triads and Chord Progression
Now that we have covered intervals, we can start stacking intervals to make chords. Chords are important because
they are used to create harmonic support for melodies. I will introduce you to major chords in this lesson and a
basic harmonic progression that you can use for your own melodies.
C-Major F-Major ____________ ________________ ________________
* Note: Typically, uppercase letters are used to refer to major triads. This is also the case for Major keys. Minor
triads and minor keys typically use lowercase letters, c-minor for example.
Chords Related to a Key or Scale
* Note about Keys: Key in the musical system we are studying refers to the music that is made from a particular scale. A
musical work might use all the notes of the C-major scale for example, but it is actually in the key of C-major. The idea of key
implies a whole set of relationships between the tones of the scale. The tonic is the first note in the scale and it is the most
important pitch in a key. All the other tones of the key revolve around the tonic. I think of tonic as “Home base”. This is where
pieces most often begin and the tone where they end. Likewise, you can have a tonic triad. This is the triad built on the tonic
note or the first scale degree of the scale. It forms the “Home base” harmony for whatever key the music is using. If the music
uses the pitches from the D-major scale, it is in the key of D-major and the tonic is D.
Chords Progression
* Note: Chord progressions are what give musical works their forward motion. Melodies are written “over” chord progressions
and move with them. The I IV V I progression is given here because so much music is written with just those four chords.
Progressions, however, can include many other triads and in more complicated patterns.
Assignment:
1. Write the chords indicated in bass clef.
2. Write the chords indicated in treble clef.
3. Write the I IV V I progression in the following keys. Put the Roman numerals below the staff and the letter
names for the chords above the staff.
The Dominant 7th Chord
Minor Triads
In major keys, we have seen that triads built on the first, fourth and fifth scale degrees are major (I, IV, V). Triads
built on the second, third and sixth scale degrees of a major scale are minor (ii, iii, vi). *Typically, uppercase Roman
numerals are used to refer to major triads and lowercase for minor. Notice that when we build triads or chords, we are
simply stacking thirds. The major triad has a major third on the bottom with a minor third stacked on top. The
minor triad has a minor third on the bottom with a major third stacked on top.
On the staff below, write the indicated major triads. Then adjust each triad to make them minor.
On the staff below, first write in the key signature for D major. Then write the notes of the D-
major scale. Fill in the triads for each scale degree and below the staff, use Roman numerals to
identify the triad (use uppercase for major triads and lowercase for minor). **Note: We haven’t
covered the triad built on the 7th scale degree. That triad is called diminished and is built by stacking two
minor thirds. The Roman numeral symbol for the chord is lowercase (vii) with a degree (°) sign – vii°.
Write the I vi ii V7 I chord progression in F-major.
1. For each staff below, first write in the key signature. Then write the notes of the major scale.
Fill in the triads for each scale degree and below the staff, use Roman numerals to identify the
triad (use uppercase for major triads and lowercase for minor). Use the vii° symbol for the triad
on the seventh scale degree.
2. Write the indicated minor triads.
