Lesson #5 - Extracting Chords From a Major Scale

And here we are! The lesson you all (read: I) have been waiting for! Let me just reiterate some keys aspects about chords (specifically, triads) and the major scale before I throw you into the deep end.

Triads

• A major triad contains an interval of a major third between the first and second notes and a minor third between the second and third notes (e.g., C-E-G)
• A minor triad contains an interval of a minor third between the root and second notes and a major third between the second and third notes(e.g., C-Eb-G)

The Major Scale

• The major scale in any key consists of seven unique notes
• The intervals of the major scale, in order, are as follows:
1. Whole Step
2. Whole Step
3. Half Step
4. Whole Step
5. Whole Step
6. Whole Step
7. Half Step
• Finally, because I'm still such a nice guy, I'm going to give you all twelve major scales in their most common spellings

C Major (no flats or sharps)

C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C


Scales with flats:

F Major (1 flat)

F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F

Bb Major (2 flats)

Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb

Eb Major (3 flats)

Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb

Ab Major (4 flats)

Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab

Db Major (5 flats)

Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db


Scales with sharps:

G Major (1 sharp)

G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G

D Major (2 sharps)

D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D

A Major (3 sharps)

A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A

E Major (4 sharps)

E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E

B Major (5 sharps)

B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B

F# Major (6 sharps)

F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# - F#




Memorize all of that? Good. Because here comes the fun stuff.

Chords are created from thirds. However, the major scale consists of notes all separated by seconds. C to D is a second, D to E is a second, E to F is a second, and so on. Nevermind whether they are minor or major. Just know that they are all seconds.

C D E F G A B C

SECONDS


Since triads contain three notes separated by thirds, and not seconds, let's find a chord from the C major scale. And to make things easy, let's start on C. So what we do is start with our root (C), skip D, then go to our next note (E), skip the F, and then find our last note (G)

C __ E __ G

C-E-G? Why, that's a C major triad! And we got that by building a chord on the first scale degree. Go ahead, play it yourself (note: You can play the virtual keyboard using your computer keyboard. F and G on the computer play the notes F and G respectively, and everything else lines up accordingly. Try it out for yourself)


So what does this have to do with anything? Why are we making chords from scales? How will that help us play other people's songs or create or own?

Well, the big deal is that most songs with which we are familiar in Western culture are based around one key. That is to say that when an artist writes a song, most if not all of the notes in that song will belong to one key signature. If someone writes a song in the key of G, then probably at least 98% of the notes will be one of the following:

G A B C D E F# G

i.e., the notes of a G major scale.

The thing is, no one wants to hear all of those notes played at the same time. While the sequence of notes in a scale may sound good, playing them simultaneously will sound like garbage. Certain combinations of notes sound great together, and other combinations just suck. So to keep things under control within a song, we have harmony. Simply put, different sections of a song will be based around different chords. But whatever chord it is, it will likely be a chord that's consistent with the key signature. Take a listen to this song medley:



If you listen closely, you'll notice that the chord on the piano changes about every 2 seconds. The chords being played are as followed:

A minor: A - C - E
F major: F - A - C
C major: C - E - G
G major: G - B - D

The only major scale that contains all of these notes is C major. So we can probably assume - nay, I am TELLING YOU - that the songs in this medley are in the key of C!!.

The progression of A minor - F major - C major - G major is a 6-4-1-5 in the key of C. Remember, we created a C major chord by building a chord on the first scale degree of C major (i.e., the first note of the C major scale). That is the 1 in this progression. Let's double-check the others to make sure they're right.

6

What is the sixth scale degree of C major? Let's count up the scale:

C - 1
D - 2
E - 3
F - 4
G - 5
A - 6 BAM!

Now what do we get when we build a triad on that note?

A B C D E

A - C - E

A to C is a minor third. C to E is a major third. Which means the 6 chord of C major is an A minor triad!



4

What is the fourth scale degree of C major? Let's count up the scale:

C - 1
D - 2
E - 3
F - 4 SHAZAM!

Now what do we get when we build a triad on that note?

F G A B C

F - A - C

F to A is a major third. A to C is a minor third. Which means the 4 chord of C major is an F major triad!



5

What is the fifth scale degree of C major? Let's count up the scale:

C - 1
D - 2
E - 3
F - 4
G - 5 BAZINGA!

Now what do we get when we build a triad on that note?

G A B C D

G - B - D

G to B is a major third. B to D is a minor third. Which means the 5 chord of C major is a G major triad!



To avoid having to do that for every note in the scale, here's a handy chart:



Don't worry about diminished for now. Only weird people use that anyway.



So how do you feel? Honestly, if you've never encountered this stuff before and you understood everything here, then I'm very impressed. Actually I don't believe you. Regardless, like everything else, it takes a lot of repetition and practice to really get it. And even then, a lot of people really only master this stuff in a few keys. Sure, I could play you a 6-4-1-5 in F# major, but it'll take me a little longer to remember what chords to play. So don't worry if you don't immediately perfect this in every key. It's a lot to take in.