How to Learn Music Chords
- 1). Learn the notes in a major scale. Notes vary depending upon the key, but starting from the tonic -- the root note in a key -- the progression is whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, whole-step. In the key of C Major, this is C-D-E-F-G-A-B.
- 2). Form a major chord by playing the first, third and fifth note in a major scale. In C, a major triad is formed by playing C-E-G. This triad can be reinforced by playing another C in a higher octave, augmented by playing the sixth note in the scale, diminished by lowering E and G by one half-step or by adding a seventh, the B in this case, to form a major seventh.
- 3). Learn the minor scale. Minor scales follow the whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step, half-step, whole-step, whole-step pattern. In the key of C, this is C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb. The minor chord is also constructed by playing the first, third and fifth note in the scale. The C minor triad is C-Eb-G. Eb, Ab and Bb are one half-step below E, A and B. On piano-based instruments, they are the black keys immediately to the left of the E, A and B. On fret-based instruments, they can be played by sliding the note down one fret toward the instrument's head.
- 4). Practice playing and constructing these chords on your instrument of choice. Choose different keys and construct the major and minor chords based on the tonic. All chords are formed by playing the first, third and fifth note in a scale.
