How important are major chords? Since probably 80% to 85% of all the chords used in music are some form of major chords, I’d say they are pretty important. And since there are only 12 of them (not counting enharmonic chords like Gb and F#) it’s not too much to go to the trouble of learning them.
Three of the major chords are composed of just white keys on the piano; three major chords have a black key as the 3rd of the chord; three major chords are like Oreo cookies; one major chord is composed of all black keys; and two are left over — B and Bb. Watch this short video and you will understand:
For more information on major chords please go to: Major Chords
As you no doubt know, there are 12 possible major chords because there are 12 different piano keys on which you can build those chords. (There can be more than 12 names for those 12 chords, of course, because we can call the same chord two names, such as Db or C# — we’ll do a video on enharmonic chords another time). Once you know those 12 major chords, it’s a snap to learn the minor chords, because all you do is lower the 3rd of the major chord one-half step. For lots of good stuff like this, come on over to http://www.facebook.com/pianochords and sign up for our free newsletter on piano chords and chord progressions as well as grab the Major-Minor Chord Chart.
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Major chords are formed from major scales by taking the root, 3rd, and 5th of a major scale. But to know which notes are the root, 3rd, and 5th, you need to know how a major scale is formed out of whole steps and half steps.
Here is the formula:
Start on any note, then go up a whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step until you get to the note an octave above where you started.
It’s easy to see in the Key of C, since all the piano keys are white keys. But in any other major key, there will be one or more black keys in the scale.
Listen to the following podcast by clicking on the player below:
Major chords are composed of the root, 3rd, and 5th of a major scale. And since there are 12 major scales (more if you count all enharmonic possibilities) then there are 12 major chords. Watch this short video and your understand right away:
Piano chords come in all flavors — major, minor, diminished, augmented, and many kinds of extended chords such as 6ths, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, etc. This 50-minute video will give you a good introduction to piano chords and prepare you for more in-depth study:
Major chords are formed by combining the root, 3rd, and 5th of a major scale. In the key of C, that would be C, E, and G. In the key of B the major chord would be B, D#, and F#. So it is imperative that musicians know how to from major scales because major chords are formed from each individual scale.
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