Introduction
The C Major scale consists of the notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. Each of these notes can be the root of a chord within the key of C Major. Understanding these chords and their roles can help you create harmonious and interesting music.
Chord Family in C Major
Here are the basic chords you will find in the C Major scale:
C Major (I): C - E - G
D Minor (ii): D - F - A
E Minor (iii): E - G - B
F Major (IV): F - A - C
G Major (V): G - B - D
A Minor (vi): A - C - E
B Diminished (vii°): B - D - F
These chords are built by stacking thirds on each note of the C Major scale.
Extended Chords
You can extend these chords by adding more notes:
C Major 7 (I7): C - E - G - B
D Minor 7 (ii7): D - F - A - C
E Minor 7 (iii7): E - G - B - D
F Major 7 (IV7): F - A - C - E
G Dominant 7 (V7): G - B - D - F
A Minor 7 (vi7): A - C - E - G
B Half-Diminished 7 (viiø7): B - D - F - A
Exercises
Exercise 1: Identifying Chords
Identify the chord for each set of notes. Write the chord name and its function (I, ii, iii, etc.).
G - B - D
F - A - C
D - F - A
A - C - E
Exercise 2: Building Chords
Build the specified chords starting from the root note.
Build a C Major chord.
Build a D Minor chord.
Build a G Dominant 7 chord.
Build an A Minor 7 chord.
Exercise 3: Chord Progressions
Create a simple chord progression using the chords in C Major. Write the chords and play them on your instrument.
Example: C - G - Am - F
Try creating your own progression and write it here:
Application
To see how these chords work in real music, let's look at a common chord progression: the I - V - vi - IV progression. In C Major, this would be:
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
This progression is widely used in many popular songs. Try playing this progression and listen to how the chords transition from one to another.
Summary
The chord family of C Major offers a wide range of harmonic possibilities. By mastering these chords and understanding their roles, you can create more interesting and varied music. Practice building these chords and incorporating them into your own progressions to become more comfortable with their sound and usage.