Chord of the Week​ ~ Intro part III

«Understanding Chords on the Piano»

~ Introduction part III ~

 ​Practical Learning - Piano Chord Charts - Triads and four note chords
for ​Songwriters - Music Producers - Aspiring Composers

Chord of the Week
( Introduction part III)

You can check out the link to my book under:

Understanding Chords on the Piano

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 Introduction part III of blog

​We will now continue with the 3rd introduction of this blog, but this time we'll be talking about Music Theory of Chords. Remember to go back in
​the blog if you miss out on something.

Music Theory of Chords

We need to talk some more before we move on to the 1st Chord of the Week. ​
Before we start laying out all the chord charts in this blog, I would like to go through some basic music theory. This will help you understand the subject of this blog and learn the principle of how to construct different chords based on the major scale. At this point we need to talk a bit about the major scale.

The Major Scale

​The major scale has 8 steps, the 8th note is a repeat of the first note up an octave. If you read music you will be able to read the eight notes under. The same thing might be easier to interpret if you look at the ¨scale piano chart¨ on the bottom of this page. 

The C major scale (music notation)

How to construct the major scale
If you take a closer look at the whole and half steps between the notes in the major scale you will end up with 2  1/2 + 3  1/2 steps. This will be the result, can you see the whole and half steps between the notes in the major scale?

WWh + WWWh   (What a great heading)  😂
Here you will be able to see the intervals between the notes in the major scale, and remember it is the same for all of the major scales. The result is: (Whole - Whole - Half  +  Whole - Whole - Whole - Half steps. )

The intervals of the C major scale, music notation:

The intervals of the C major scale on the piano
Take a closer look at the information on this piano scale chart; 8 notes in the scale, note names, distance between notes or intervals; whole and half steps:

The same principal for all major scales
Here are two more examples of major scales, the G major and the F major scale. They also build on the formula 2  1/2 + 3  1/2 steps as you can see. So if anybody asks you how to construct a major scale, then you’ll know.

Major scale, interval content and transpositions
All major scales consist of the exact same interval content, so below you can see the G and the F major scale. If you compare all of them you will find that the G and the F major scale are simply a transposition of the C major scale. They sound the same, but will start from different notes higher or lower. Take a closer look below, even play the scales on your instrument, that will also give you a better understanding.

The intervals of the G major scale, music notation: (one #)

The intervals of the G major scale on the piano: (one #)

The intervals of the F major scale, music notation: (one b)

The intervals of the F major scale on the piano: (one b)

​End of Introduction part III

​That should be the end of my «Introduction part III». Thanks for reading, I will soon be back for a follow up and continuation of this blog. Remember to follow me on Instagram and to register on this website for free GIVEAWAYS. Feel free to comment as well.

Next time we will continue on the subject of Intervals.

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