How to Build Major and Minor Chords - Music Theory
TLDRThis video teaches how to build major and minor chords on the piano and guitar. It explains the structure of chords, using intervals like the major third and perfect fifth, or by counting semitones/half steps from the root note. It shows how to construct major chords with intervals of four and seven semitones, and minor chords with three and seven semitones. It explains how to transform chords from major to minor and vice versa by raising or lowering the third scale degree by a semitone. Examples demonstrate the mixture of major and minor chords in different keys. Additional music theory resources on the website are highlighted.
Takeaways
- 😀 Major chords comprise a root note, major third, and perfect fifth
- 😃 Minor chords have a root note, minor third, and perfect fifth
- 🎹 To make a major chord minor, lower the third by a semitone
- 🎼 Major and minor chords sound noticeably different
- 🎶 Major keys contain a mixture of major, minor and diminished chords
- 🎵 Minor keys also contain major, minor, diminished and augmented chords
- 🎤 Natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales affect the chords in minor keys
- 🎸 Chords can be built by intervals or by counting semitones/half-steps
- 🎹 On guitar and piano, major and minor chords have different shapes
- 💡 Understanding some theory helps you better hear and apply chords
Q & A
What are the three components that make up a major chord?
-A major chord is made up of a root note, a major third, and a perfect fifth above the root note.
How can you calculate a major third interval if you don't know music theory?
-You can calculate a major third by counting up 4 semitones or half steps from the root note. So for a C major chord, you would count C, C#, D, E to get the major third.
What is the difference between a major and minor chord?
-The difference is in the middle note - the third. A major chord has a major third interval, while a minor chord has a minor third interval, which is one semitone or half step lower than the major third.
How can you turn a minor chord into a major chord?
-To turn a minor chord into a major chord, you raise the middle note - the minor third interval - up by one semitone or half step. So if you have C minor (C, Eb, G), making it major would be C, E, G.
What mixture of chords do you find in a major key?
-In a major key, you find a mixture of major chords, minor chords, and one diminished chord.
What chord types can you find in a minor key?
-In a minor key, you can find minor chords, major chords, diminished chords, and augmented chords.
Why does the type of chords change in a minor key?
-The chords change in a minor key depending on whether it is using the natural minor, harmonic minor, or melodic minor scale, which all have slightly different notes.
What is an easy way to visualize major and minor chords on the guitar?
-On guitar, major chords generally sound brighter and happier, while minor chords sound darker and sadder. An easy way to see this is comparing a C major chord shape to a C minor chord shape.
Where can you find more resources to learn music theory concepts?
-The presenter recommends visiting www.mmcourses.co.uk for a full A-Z music theory course at multiple levels, as well as other resources.
What benefits do you get from joining as a Maestro on mmcourses.co.uk?
-Benefits of joining as a Maestro include discounts on online courses, monthly live streams to talk about music, and help reinforcing concepts learned in videos like this one.
Outlines
😀 Introducing how to build major and minor chords
The paragraph introduces the topic of building major and minor chords. It discusses common assumptions people make about chords in major and minor keys. It explains that major keys use a mixture of chord types and minor keys use an even wider variety. It previews explaining the basics of forming chords and distinguishing chord types.
😃 Constructing major and minor chords using intervals or semitones
The paragraph explains how to construct a major chord using intervals of a root, major third, and perfect fifth. It gives an alternate method using semitones/half steps of 4 and 7 semitones above the root note. It then explains how to construct a minor chord, which lowers the third note by a semitone versus the major. It also shows the semitone method of building a minor chord using 3 and 7 semitones above the root.
😊 Relating chord construction to playing instruments and identifying chords
The paragraph relates the major and minor chord construction back to playing chords on guitar and piano. It also discusses using the methods to identify chords when looking at sheet music to determine if they are major or minor. It plays major and minor chords on the piano to highlight the sound difference and tie it to music theory.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Major chord
💡Minor chord
💡Intervals
💡Semitones
💡Key
💡Diminished chord
💡Guitar chords
💡Piano chords
💡Chord progression
💡Harmony
Highlights
A major chord comprises a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth.
The bottom note is the root. The next note up is a major third. The top note is a perfect fifth.
To find a major third, count up 4 semitones from the root note. For a perfect fifth, count up 7 semitones.
A minor chord lowers the third note by a semitone to create a minor third interval.
To make a minor chord major, raise the middle note by a semitone. To make a major chord minor, lower the middle note.
Major keys contain a mixture of major, minor and diminished chords. Minor keys contain minor, major, diminished and augmented chords.
Hearing the difference between major and minor chords builds understanding.
If you know intervals, calculate chords that way. If not, use semitones.
In the key of C Major, the I, IV and V chords are major. The ii, iii and vi chords are minor.
On guitar, CEG makes a C major chord. C Eb G makes a C minor chord.
On piano, playing C E G makes a C major chord.
Visit www.mmcourses.co.uk for more music theory resources.
Monthly live streams provide chances to discuss music theory.
Discounts on online courses are available for Maestros members.
This video explains how to build major and minor chords.
Transcripts
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