Terms
- Chord: A chord is a group of notes played together. Chords are the building blocks of harmony in music.
- Triad: A triad is a three-note chord consisting of a root note, a third, and a fifth.
- Root Note: The root note is the note that gives the chord its name. For example, in a C major chord, the root note is C.
- Third: The third is the note that is two whole steps above the root note. It determines whether the chord is major or minor.
- Fifth: The fifth is the note that is three and a half steps above the root note. It gives the chord its stability.
- Major Chord: A major chord consists of a root note, a major third, and a perfect fifth.
- Minor Chord: A minor chord consists of a root note, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.
- Seventh Chord: A seventh chord consists of a root note, a major third, a perfect fifth, and a minor seventh.
- Inversion: An inversion is when the root note of the chord is not the lowest note played.
- Chord Progression: A chord progression is a series of chords played in a sequence. Chord progressions are the foundation of a song's harmony.
- Roman Numeral Notation: Roman numeral notation is a way of representing chords using Roman numerals. The numerals represent the scale degree of the chord in relation to the key.
- Diatonic Chords: Diatonic chords are chords that are built from the notes of a diatonic scale. They are the most common chords used in music.
- Non-Diatonic Chords: Non-diatonic chords are chords that contain notes that are not part of the diatonic scale. They are used to add tension and color to a chord progression.