As a teacher I am often asked how are
songs made?
Songs use many techniques that I will
discuss over the next few months.
First I will explain the harmonized
major scale.
Using just the notes of the
C major scale lets see how the family of chords are created.
First the notes of C major C D
E F G A B C
By taking every other note in
a group of three notes this creates chords. We do this for each note (scale
degree) in the major scale. Also we use large and small roman numerals for each
position of the scale so that one number systems works for all fifteen written
keys. See below:
I =
C major
ii = D
minor
iii = E
minor
IV = F major
V = G
major
vi = A
minor
viio = B diminished
(maj = major, small m =
minor, o means diminished)
These chord types (major,
minor, diminished) stay exactly in the same sequence in all
keys.
Remember these chords are
created from the major scale.
C, E, G = C maj
D, F, A = Dm
E, G, B = Em
F, A, C = F maj
G, B, D = G maj
A ,C, E = Am
B, D, F = Bo
C, E, G = C major
It is important to memorize these chords in all possible
positions on the fret board and or the keyboard. Later transpose to all keys
(twelve notes fifteen written keys).
