Learn to strike the perfect chordTuhin Rao

9130007230 tuhinrao@gmail.com

www.tuhinrao.com

ScalesThe colour palate of chords

Intervals

Half Step (Semi-Tone)

Interval between to immediate notes

Whole Step (Tone)

Interval of 2 half steps

Minor Third (Min 3, m3 -3)

Interval of 3 half steps

Major Third (Maj 3, M3 +3)

Interval of 4 half steps or 2 whole steps

The pitch distance between 2 notes

Traditional Diatonic Scales• Major Scale

• W W H W W W H

• T T S T T T S

• Half step between 3-4, 7-8

C D E F G A B C

W W W W WH H

A B C D E F G A

W W W WWH H

• Natural minor Scale

• W H W W H W W

• T S T T S T T

• Half step between 2-3, 5-6

Minor Natural and Harmonic Form

A B C D E F

G#

A

W W W WHH H

A B C D E F G A

W W W WWH H

H

• Harmonic minor Scale

• W H W W H WH H

• T S T T S TS S

• 7th note raised by a half step from a natural minor scale

• Natural minor Scale

• W H W W H W W

• T S T T S T T

• Half step between 2-3, 5-6

Mixolydian Mode• Major Scale

• W W H W W W H

• T T S T T T S

• Half step between 3-4, 7-8

C D E F G A B C

W W W W WH H

• Mixolydian Mode

• W W H W W H W

• T T S T T S T

• 7th note is lowered from a major scale

C D E F G A

B♭

C

W W W W WH H

Dorian Mode

A B C D E G

F#

A

W W WH H

A B C D E F G A

W W W WWH H

• Dorian Mode

• W H W W W H W

• T S T T T S T

• 6th note raised by a half step from a natural minor scale

• Natural minor Scale

• W H W W H W W

• T S T T S T T

• Half step between 2-3, 5-6

W W

Chords

Major Chord

• 3 alternate notes of major scale

• 1-3 Major 3rd

• 3-5 Minor 3rd

C E G

+3 -3

D

F#

A

+3 -3

A♭

C

E♭

+3 -3

CRoot

E3rd

G5th

Maj 3

Min 3

DRoot

F#3rd

A5th

Maj 3

Min 3

A♭Root

C3rd

E♭5th

Maj 3

Min 3

Root Third Fifth

First Second Third

Minor Chord

• 3 alternate notes of minor scale

• 1-3 Minor 3rd

• 3-5 Major 3rd

C

E♭

G

+3-3

D F A

+3-3

F#

A

C#

+3-3

CRoot

E♭3rd

G5th

Maj 3

Min 3

DRoot

F3rd

A5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F#Root

A3rd

C#5th

Maj 3

Min 3

Diminished Chord

• 1-3 Minor 3rd

• 3-5 Minor 3rd

C

E♭ G♭

-3

D F

A♭

-3

G

B♭ D♭

-3

CRoot

E♭3rd

G♭5th

Min 3

DRoot

F3rd

A♭5th

Min 3

GRoot

B♭3rd

D♭5th

Min 3

-3

-3

-3

Min 3 Min 3 Min 3

Always skip an alphabet while naming a chord

A♭ C E♭

A♭ C D#

G# C D#

G# B# D#

B D

A C

x

A B x

Nomenclature

Chord Name

Root Alphabet in Capitale.g.C Major: CG Major: G

Major Minor Diminished

Roman Numerals

Root’s Scale degree in Capital Roman Numerals

e.g.In C Major, C Major chord: IIn G Major, C Major chord: IVIn F Major, C Major chord: V

Chord Name

Root Alphabet in Capital followed by ‘m’e.g.C minor: CmG minor: Gm

Roman Numerals

Root’s Scale degree in small case Roman Numerals

e.g.In C Major, D Minor chord: iiIn F Major, D Minor chord: viIn A Minor, D Minor chord: iv

Chord Name

Root Alphabet in Capital followed by ‘°’e.g.B diminished: B°G# diminished: G#°

Roman Numerals

Root’s Scale degree in small case Roman Numerals followed by ‘°’e.g.In C Major, B diminished: vii°In A Minor, B diminished: ii°In A Minor, G# diminished: vii°

Chords in a Scale

C E G Major I C

D F A Minor ii Dm

E G B Minor iii Em

F A C Major IV F

G B D Major V G

A C E Minor vi Am

B D F Diminished vii° B°

A C E Minor i Am

B D F Diminished ii° B°

C E G Major III C

D F A Minor iv Dm

E G B Minor v Em

F A C Major VI F

G B D Major ♭VII G

A C E Minor i Am

B D F Diminished ii° B°

C E G Major III C

D F A Minor iv Dm

E G# B Major V E

F A C Major VI F

G# B D Diminished vii° G#°

C Major A Natural Minor A Harmonic Minor

C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D

C D E F

G#

A B C D E F A B C D

G#

GG

Moods of Modes

C E G Major I C

D F A Minor ii Dm

E G B♭ Diminished iii° E°

F A C Major IV F

G B♭ D Minor v Gm

A C E Minor vi Am

B♭ D F Major ♭VII B

A C E Minor i Am

B D F# Minor ii Bm

C E G Major III C

D F# A Major IV D

E G B Minor v Em

F# A C Diminished vi° F#°

G B D Major ♭VII G

C Mixolydian Mode A Dorian Mode

C D E F G AB♭

C D E F

A B C D E

F#

G A B C D

Primary Chords I IV V or i iv v/V

C E G Major I C

F A C Major IV F

G B D Major V G

A C E Minor i Am

D F A Minor iv Dm

E G B Minor v Em

C Major A Natural Minor

A C E Minor i Am

D F A Minor iv Dm

E G# B Major V E

A Harmonic Minor

C D E F G A B

E A B

G C D

A B C D E F G

C F G

E A B

A B C D E F G

C F G

E A B

I IV V i iv v i iv V

Secondary Chords ii, iii, vi, vii° or ii°, III, VI, ♭VII

D F A Minor ii Dm

E G B Minor iii Em

A C E Minor vi Am

B D F Diminished vii° B°

B D F Diminished ii° B°

C E G Major III C

F A C Major VI F

G B D Major ♭VII G

C Major A Natural Minor

Simple Chord Progression rules

Up a 4th – Down a 5th

Down in 3rds

Up in 2nds

Using only Primary Chords

Using only I and V

Always works

Up in 3rds

Down in 2nds

Works sometimes

Simple Chord Progressions

Blue Moon

Rock ‘n’ Roll

Chopsticks

Major scale Minor scale

Let it be

I V

I IV V

I vi ii V

I V vi IV

D’yer MakerI vi IV V

Set fire to the raini VI ♭VII v

CalifornicationI VI I I I I

I IIVIV

V IV I

12 Bar Blues

I

Boogie Blues

i VI♭VII V Andalusian CadenceHit the Road JackSultans of Swing

Introduction to Jazz HarmonyChords built on 7ths, 9ths and 13ths

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G Major Chord

Dominant 7th (V7)

• Major chord and -3 from 5th

• Major chord and -7 from root

G B D

+3 -3

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3F

-3

F7th

Min 3

-7th

Minor 7th (m7)

• Minor chord and -3 from 5th

• Minor chord and -7 from root

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t D

-C

D Minor Chord

D F A

+3-3

DRoot

F3rd

A5th

Maj 3

Min 3

C

-3

C7th

Min 3

-7th

An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,I IV I

C F C

How I wonder what you are!ii7 I V7 I

Dm7 C G7 C

Up above the world so high,

I ii7 I V7

C Dm7 C G7

Like a diamond in the sky,

I ii7 I V7

C Dm7 C G7

Major 7th (M7)

• Major chord and +3 from 5th

• Major chord and +7 from root

+7th

fro

m R

oo

t C

-B

C Major Chord

C E G

+3 -3

CRoot

E3rd

G5th

Maj 3

Min 3B

B7th

+7th

+3

Maj 3

The Half diminished 7th (ø7) or (°7 ♭5)

• Diminished chord and +3 from 5th

• Diminished chord and -7 from root

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t B

-A

B diminished Chord

B D F

+3-3

BRoot

D3rd

F5th

Min 3

A

-3

A7th

-7th

Maj 3

Min 3

The diminished 7th (°7 )

• Diminished chord and -3 from 5th

• All intervals are -3

All

-3 in

terv

als

B diminished Chord

B D F

-3

BRoot

D3rd

F5th

Min 3

A♭

-3

A♭7th

Min 3

Min 3

-3

How and when to use 7ths

• All progressions can be extended using 7ths

• May not always work

• Alternating between 7ths and triads produce interesting results

Chromatic descending roots

Autumn LeavesD : Em7Em: E G B

E : F#ø7F#°: F# A C

F# : GM7G G B D

G : Am7A: A C E

A : B7B: B D# F#

C : D7D: D F# A

B : CM7C: C E G

E minor (Natural and Harmonic)

E G

F#

A B

D#

EC

D

B

G

E

D♭

B♭

G

E♭

C

A

F

D

C♭

A♭

F

D♭

Em7 E♭7 Dm7 D♭7

B

G

E

C

CM7

D

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-A

9th (G9)

• 7th chord and +3 from 7th

• 7th chord and +9 from root

G B D

+3 -3

F

-3

+9th

AA

+3

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G Major Chord

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

optional

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-A

9th (G9) add9 (G add9)

G Major Chord

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

A9th

optional

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-A

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G Major Chord

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

optional

No 7th7th

-9th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

Dominant Minor 9th (G7 ♭9)

• 7th chord and -3 from 7th

• 7th chord and -9 from root

G B D

+3 -3

F

-3

-9th

A♭

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G Major Chord

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A♭♭ 9th

optional-3

Min 3

A♭

Autumn Leaves with B7 ♭9 D : Em7Em: E G B

E : F#ø7F#°: F# A C

F# : GM7G G B D

G : Am7A: A C E

A : B7B: B D# F#

C : D7D: D F# A

B : CM7C: C E G

E Harmonic minor

E G

F#

A B

D#

EC

B D# F# A C : B7 ♭9

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t D

-E

Minor 9th (Dm 9)

• Minor 7th chord and +3 from 7th

• Minor 7th chord and +9 from root

D F A C

+9th

EE

+3

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t D

-C

D minor Chord

DRoot

F3rd

A5th

Maj 3

Min 3

C7th

Min 3

E9th

Maj 3

optional

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-A

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

A9th

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-A

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-A

A♭♭ 9th

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

Min 3

+9th

fro

m R

oo

t D

-E

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t D

-C

G M

ino

r

GRoot

B♭3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

G9 G7 ♭9 G add9 Gm 9

NO 7th

+13

thfr

om

Ro

ot

G-

E

13th (G13)

• 7th chord and +7 from 7th

• 7th chord and +13 from root

G B D F

+13th

A

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G Major Chord

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

optional

E

E13th

optional

+13

thfr

om

Ro

ot

G-

E

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

E13th

+13

thfr

om

Ro

ot

G-

E

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

E♭♭13th

+6th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-E

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

Maj 2

E6th

G13 G ♭13

G 6

More about Dominant HarmonyAltered and Secondary dominants

Secondary DominantsDominant

Secondary Dominants

• The Dominant is the 5th note of a Major/Minor scale

• The Dominant of any chord in a scale other than the I chord is called a secondary dominant.

• Can form long chains of secondary dominants

I: C ii: Dm iii: Em IV: F V: G vi: Am

V: G(7) V: A(7) V: B(7) V: C(7) V: D(7) V: E(7)

Also Secondary DominantsV: D(7) V: E(7) V: F(7) V: G(7) V: A(7) V: B(7)

An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,I IV I

C F C

How I wonder what you are!ii7 I V7 I

Dm7 C G7 C

Up above the world so high,I ii7 I V7

C Dm7 C G7

Like a diamond in the sky,ii7 V7

A7 Dm7 D9 G7

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,V7/IV IV V7/ii

C7 F A7

How I wonder what you are!ii7 V9/V V7 I

Dm7 D9 G7 C

V7/ii V9/V

An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,I IV I

C F C

How I wonder what you are!ii7 I V7 I

Dm7 C G7 C

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,I7 ii 9

CM7 Dm 9

How I wonder what you are!ii7 I7 13

♭9 V7

I6

Dm7 CM7

♭9 13G7 C6A7 ♭9

V7♭9/ii V6

G6A9

V9/ii V7♭9/V

D ♭9 A7 ♭9

V7♭9/ii ♭II7

D♭7

V9/V

D9♭9A7

V7♭9/ii

B♭7

AltV7/VI

C C

G GA A

G F FE E

D DC

V7

G7

An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

Up above the world so high,I ii7 I V7

C Dm7 C G7

Like a diamond in the sky,ii7 V7

A7 Dm7 D9 G7

V7/ii V9/V

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,ii7

Dm7

I7

CM7

ii7

Dm7

iii7

Em7

IV6

F6

I7

CM7

iii7

Em7G7 ♭9

V7♭9 ♭II7

D♭7

♭III7

E♭7

iv°7

FM7 G7 ♭9

V7♭9

G GF F

E ED

G GF F

E ED

An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,ii7

Dm7

I7

CM7

ii7

Dm7

iii7

Em7

IV6

F6

I7

CM7

iii7

Em7G7 ♭9

V7♭9 ♭II7

D♭7

♭iII7

E♭7

IV7

FM7 G7 ♭9

V7♭9

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,I7 ii 9

CM7 Dm 9

How I wonder what you are!ii7 I7 13

♭9 V7

I6

Dm7 CM7

♭9 13G7 C6A7 ♭9

V7♭9/ii V6

G6A9

V9/ii V7♭9/V

D ♭9 A7 ♭9

V7♭9/ii ♭II7

D♭7

V9/V

D9♭9A7

V7♭9/ii

B♭7

AltV7/VI

Altered Dominant chords

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A9th

Maj 3

E13th

G13

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A♭♭ 9th

Maj 3

E13th

G7 (13 ♭9)

-7th

fro

m R

oo

t G

-F

G M

ajo

r

GRoot

B3rd

D5th

Maj 3

Min 3

F7th

Min 3

A♭♭ 9th

Maj 3

E13th

G7 (♭9 #11 13)

C##11t

h

B♭ : Cm7Chasing Pavements - Adele Cm: C E♭ G

C D

E♭

F G

A♭ B♭

CB

C Minor Scale (Natural and Harmonic)C : Dø7D°: D F A♭

D :E♭M7E♭: E♭ G B♭

E♭ : Fm7Fm: F A♭ C

F : Gm7Gm: G B♭ D

F : G7G: G B D

A♭ : B♭7B♭: B♭ D F

G :A♭M7A♭: A♭ C E♭Gm7/B♭ = B♭6

B♭3rd

D5th

F7th

GRoot

B♭Root

D3rd

F5th

G7th

BassNote

Treble

Riders on the storm – The Doors

E Dorian and Natural minor

E G

F#

A B

C#

ED

D : Em7Em: E G B

E : F#m7F#m: F# A C#

F : Gm7G: G B D

G : A7A: A C# E

A : Bm7Bm: B D F#

G : C#ø7C#°: C# E G

B : CM7C: C E G

C : D7D: D F# A

C

Em D/A

E E BassNote

Treble Am Bm C D

A A A A

G : Am7Am: A C E

Wots… Uh the Deal- Pink FloydG

Maj

or

G

B

D

G8 F#

+7 F-7 E

6

E6

D##5

D5th

D##5

E6 D#

#5

DRoot

F#

A

C

G GM7 G7 G6 Em+7 G G+ G6 G+ D7

G Major

G

B

D

G

B

D

G

B

D

G

B

D

G

B

G

B

G

B

G

B