Creating Major and Minor Chords

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Submitted by James Dellay on Friday, 16 January 20093 Comments

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Creating Major Chords

Creating Major Chords using the R/3/5 idea.Root/3rd/5th is the algorithm to create Major chords,The Root is the key you are playing in, in our case A Major, the 3rd is the 3rd alphabetic character in your key, and the 5th is 5th alphabetic character in our key.

In this case we have A B C# D E F# G#

R 3 5

So if we gather our R/3/5 which is (A C# E) we now make up our A Major Chord.

Lets take a look at a diagram showing you how this is done.

Creating Minor Chords

Creating Minor Chords using the R/b3/5 idea.

Root/b3/5 – is the algorithm to create Major chords, in our case A Major, the flat 3rd is the 3rd alphabetic character in your key flat by a half step (i.e. Ab = G# or Gb = F#), and the 5th is 5th alphabetic character in our key.

In this case we have A B C# D E F# G#

R b3 5

So if we gather our R/b3/5 which is (A C E) we now make up our A Minor Chord.

Lets take a look at a diagram showing you how this is done.

I hope that my diagrams and lessons have helped YOU, that striving musician, to learn the great tools available in theory to help you understand music a little better.

In closing words, keep your head up, never give up, aspire to be great, and do BIG things.

PEACE, LOVE, & MUSIC!

-James Della

3 Comments »

ropiko said:

Good post James! Great! Peace,love and Harmony !

- 16 January 2009 at 1:26 pm

Jeff said:

Is your diagram off on your notes on the tab for the A major & minor example? Tab would not be A E C# (4th, 3rd, 2nd string) on tab for A Major, but it would be E, A, C#? I assume since you have 6 lines you are referring to tab. Same for A minor for tab it would be E, A, C not A, E, C (4th, 3rd, 2nd string).

I like the root, three, five for remembering the foundation of a major chord, as well as flat the third for a minor. good stuff.

- 13 February 2010 at 7:36 pm

James Dellay said:

Good eye, yes the a and the e are backwards, just noticed this. you’re correct jeff. feel free to shoot me any music theory questions at jamesdellay@gmail.com and ill do my best to answer them for you!

- 13 February 2010 at 8:23 pm