Unit 1-1: Chord Notation

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Demonstrate proficiency in identifying and notating chords using lead sheet notation, Roman numerals, and Nashville number notation.
Explain how different types of chord notation provide different information.
Rewrite a progression in lead sheet notation with Roman numerals and vice versa in multiple keys.
Transpose a chord progression provided in lead sheet notation.
Analyze chords in examples from the repertoire and label them using Roman numerals and lead sheet notation.

Preparation for Class

Read:

What is Popular Music? (Kaitlin Bove)
Roman Numerals in Popular Music (Sarah Louden)
Getting Set Up from this course text
Review the reading from Theory I, as needed:
- - Chord Symbols (Lavengood, OMT)
  - Jazz Chord Symbols: A Primer for the Classically-Trained (Bret Pimentel)
  - Nashville Numbers vs. Jazz Chords (Cleland & Dobrea-Grindahl, Developing Musicianship through Aural Skills)
  - Review Basics of Standard Music Notation (See the Handout here

Watch

Chas Williams, “The Crown”
Follow along with the Nashville number notation as you listen to the song. Use your ear to work out what's happening with any symbols you don't recognize.

Reference Aids

Key Signatures

Key Signatures (major only), Key Signatures (major & minor)
Printable Key Signature Flashcards
Key Signature Tricks Handout

Chord Symbols

Handout 1: Common Chords (Source: Stephanie Acevedo)
Handout 2: Advanced Chart with Voicing (Source: Philip Tagg)

Scale Degrees

Diatonic & Chromatic Scale Degrees (Source: Sarah Louden)

Quick Reference: Triads & 7th Chords
(Source: Sarah Louden)

Lead sheet notation isn't standardized. There are multiple ways for notating chords (see the chords below with more than one symbol above).

This is a chart displaying various chord types written on a grand staff, separated into three main sections: Major Triads, Minor Triads, Diminished Triads, and seventh chords (Major 7, Dominant 7, Minor 7, Half-Diminished 7, and Fully-Diminished 7). Major Triads (top left): Includes the chords: C (root position), C/E (first inversion), and C/G (second inversion). Each chord is written on a grand staff, showing both treble and bass clefs. The notes for the C major chord are C, E, and G in different inversions. Minor Triads (top center): Includes the chords: Cm (root position), Cm/Eb (first inversion), and Cm/G (second inversion). The alternative notations C- and C-/Eb are also shown. Each chord consists of the notes C, Eb, and G, with different voicings depending on the inversion. Diminished Triads (top right): Includes the chords: C° (root position), C°/Eb (first inversion), and C°/Gb (second inversion). Alternative notations Cdim, Cdim/Eb, and Cdim/Gb are provided. Each chord consists of the notes C, Eb, and Gb in different positions. Seventh Chords (bottom section): Major 7 (leftmost): CΔ7, CMaj7, and Cma7 notations are listed. The chord comprises C, E, G, and B. Dominant 7: Notated as C7, it consists of the notes C, E, G, and Bb. Minor 7: Notated as Cm7, C-7, or Cmi7, the chord includes C, Eb, G, and Bb. Half-Diminished 7: Notated as Cm7b5 or Cø7, the chord consists of C, Eb, Gb, and Bb. Fully-Diminished 7: Notated as C°7 or Cdim7, it includes C, Eb, Gb, and A. Each chord is displayed with corresponding noteheads on the treble and bass clefs, showing precise voicings and inversions. The chord types are labeled in blue text below the staves, with explanatory shorthand like “M7 or MM7” for Major 7 or “hd7 or ø7” for Half-Diminished 7.

Roman Numerals and Chord Symbols for Common Pop Triads in C

This is a chart illustrating chords in the C Major scale and their modal variants. The content is split into two sections labeled "Chords in C Major" and "Modal Variants." Both sections display chords on a single treble clef staff. Chords in C Major (top section): Lists diatonic chords in the C Major scale: C (I): Notes are C, E, and G. Dm (ii): Notes are D, F, and A. Em (iii): Notes are E, G, and B. F (IV): Notes are F, A, and C. G (V): Notes are G, B, and D. Am (vi): Notes are A, C, and E. Bdim (vii°): Notes are B, D, and F, shown in gray with a note that it is “Not common.” The Roman numeral analysis is provided below each chord, with uppercase numerals for major chords, lowercase for minor chords, and a ° symbol for the diminished chord. Modal Variants (bottom section): Displays chords often used as modal substitutions: Cm (i): Notes are C, Eb, and G. Db (♭II): Notes are Db, F, and Ab. Eb (♭III): Notes are Eb, G, and Bb. Fm (iv): Notes are F, Ab, and C. Gm (v): Notes are G, Bb, and D. Ab (♭VI): Notes are Ab, C, and Eb. Bb (♭VII): Notes are Bb, D, and F. Roman numeral analysis includes lowercase for minor chords (i, iv, v) and flat symbols (♭) for modal major chords. Both sections use blue text for headings and have clear, precise chord spellings written on the staff. Modal variants emphasize chromaticism compared to the diatonic chords in C Major.

Roman Numerals and Chord Symbols for Common Pop Triads in D
(Source: Sarah Louden)

This is a chart showing the diatonic chords in the D Major scale and their modal variants. The content is divided into two labeled sections: "Chords in D Major" and "Modal Variants." Both sections feature chords written on a single treble clef staff. Chords in D Major (top section): Lists diatonic chords in the D Major scale: D (I): Notes are D, F#, and A. Em (ii): Notes are E, G, and B. F#m (iii): Notes are F#, A, and C#. G (IV): Notes are G, B, and D. A (V): Notes are A, C#, and E. Bm (vi): Notes are B, D, and F#. C#dim (vii°): Notes are C#, E, and G, shown in gray with a note indicating it is “Not common.” The Roman numeral analysis is provided below each chord, with uppercase numerals for major chords, lowercase for minor chords, and a ° symbol for the diminished chord. Modal Variants (bottom section): Displays modal substitutions for the D Major scale: Dm (i): Notes are D, F, and A. Eb (♭II): Notes are Eb, G, and Bb. F (♭III): Notes are F, A, and C. Gm (iv): Notes are G, Bb, and D. Am (v): Notes are A, C, and E. Bb (♭VI): Notes are Bb, D, and F. C (♭VII): Notes are C, E, and G. Roman numeral analysis includes lowercase for minor chords (i, iv, v) and flat symbols (♭) for modal major chords. Both sections use blue text for headings and visually separate the diatonic chords from the modal variants. The chords are notated with their precise spellings on the staff, illustrating differences in tonal and modal relationships.

Lead Sheet and Figured Bass Symbols for Triads and 7th Chords
(Source: Sarah Louden, Image)

This is a diagram illustrating the chord voicings of the E major triad and the E dominant seventh chord in various inversions. The diagram is divided into two sections: E Major Triad Inversions Lead Sheet Notation: Displays "E", "E/G#", and "E/B" in pink text. Staff Notation: Shows the E major triad (E, G#, B) in root position, first inversion, and second inversion, respectively. The notes are stacked as follows: "E" chord: E in the bass, G# in the middle, and B on top. "E/G#" chord: G# in the bass, B in the middle, and E on top. "E/B" chord: B in the bass, E in the middle, and G# on top. Figured Bass: Labels the chords as V (root position), V⁶ (first inversion), and V⁶₄ (second inversion) in blue text. Chord Member in the Bass: Indicates the chord component appearing in the bass clef as "Root" for V, "3rd" for V⁶, and "5th" for V⁶₄ in green text. E Dominant Seventh Chord Inversions Lead Sheet Notation: Displays "E7", "E7/G#", "E7/B", and "E7/D" in pink text. Staff Notation: Shows the E dominant seventh chord (E, G#, B, D) in root position, first inversion, second inversion, and third inversion, respectively. The notes are stacked as follows: "E7" chord: E in the bass, G# above, B next, and D on top. "E7/G#" chord: G# in the bass, B above, D next, and E on top. "E7/B" chord: B in the bass, D above, E next, and G# on top. "E7/D" chord: D in the bass, E above, G# next, and B on top. Figured Bass: Labels the chords as V⁷ (root position), V⁶₅ (first inversion), V⁴₃ (second inversion), and V⁴₂ (third inversion) in blue text. Chord Member in the Bass: Specifies the chord component appearing in the bass clef as "Root" for V⁷, "3rd" for V⁶₅, "5th" for V⁴₃, and "7th" for V⁴₂ in green text. Color coding: Lead sheet notation is pink, figured bass is blue, and the bass chord member labels are green.

In-Class Activities

Suggested Fundamentals Review

Brush up on your fundamentals using the links in the “Additional Practice” section below. Aim for speed and accuracy!
- - Major and minor key signature ID and spelling
  - Triad Spelling (major, minor, and diminished)
  - Spelling and identifying chords using Roman numerals and chord symbols

Discussion

Chord Symbols: How do lead sheet notation, Roman numerals, and Nashville numbers serve as distinct systems for representing chords in music? In what ways do these three approaches facilitate communication among musicians, and what unique advantages or limitations does each system bring to the table? Consider practical applications, ease of use, and any stylistic or contextual considerations in your comparison.

Activities

Roman Numeral ID & Spelling: This worksheet includes practice spelling and identifying Roman numerals including those with modal variants (e.g. ♭VII, ♭VI): PDF | MuseScore. (Instructor note: See the solution in the instructor resources.)
- - For additional practice see the Open Music Theory worksheet here: PDF | MuseScore.
Reading Lead Sheet Notation in Scores: Flip through song charts that use lead sheet notation and practice spelling the chords. If you run across any notation that you don't recognize, look it up! The "Repertoire for Practice" section below includes links to anthology pages for practice. Here are a few additional collections to practice with:
- - - Jazz Fake Book
    - Broadways Sheet Music
    - Go to a chord site like Ultimate Guitar and search for your favorite songs
Practice with Nashville Numbers: Take a scan through these presentation slides by Trevor DeClercq that explore using Nashville Numbers as an alternative to Roman numerals. Listen to some of the musical examples with the transcriptions. Check out the slides that compare Pop, Roman numeral, and Nashville numbers side by side (e.g. slides 8–29) and try to fill in the charts and discuss differences in notation with the three different chord systems.
- - Source: de Clercq, Trevor. (2017). “The Nashville Number System: A Pop(ular) Alternative to Roman Numerals and Figured Bass.” Pedagogy into Practice: Teaching Music Theory in the Twenty-First Century. Lee University: Cleveland, TN (June 2). Accessed on DeClercq's website here.
Roman Numerals & Lead Sheet Notation: Using the resources above or the anthology pages below, practice converting between Roman numerals and lead sheet notation. Begin by working with only root-position triads and 7th chords, then add inversions.
- - - Given lead sheet notation, identify the Roman numerals. Be sure to carefully differentiate between major and minor in your notation.
      - Once you've identified the Roman numerals, practice transposing the progression into 2 or 3 other keys.
    - Identify both the Roman numerals and the chord symbol for chords in examples from the repertoire. (See the "Roman Numeral" anthology link below).
    - Given a chord progression written in Roman numerals, notate the lead sheet notation for each chord.
Lead Sheet Realization: Compose an accompaniment to "Why Don't You Do Right" by Joe McCoy.
- - - MuseScore | PDF
    - Using the chord symbols above the vocal line, compose a standard "oom-pah" accompaniment with bass notes in the left hand on the beat (lower staff), and 3-note chord voicings in the right hand on the offbeats (upper staff). The first measure is provided as an example. Identify the Roman numeral for each chord on the lines provided below the staff.
    - Alternatively, use the worksheet above as a template to compose an accompaniment for another song in one of the collections above.

Repertoire for Practice

Chord Spelling & ID: These pages in the anthology include examples for practicing spelling and identifying triads and 7th chords using lead sheet and Roman numeral notation.

Anthology: Triads

Anthology: 7th Chords

Anthology: Roman Numerals

Assignment

Assignment 1-1

NEXT STEP

Next Lesson: Form & Vocabulary

Want to Learn More?

For a deeper dive into lead sheet notation check out:

Handout: Trevor de Clercq, "How to Format a Song Chart" (using Nashville number notation). From de Clercq, Trevor. (2015). “The Nashville Number System: A Method for Notating Harmony and Form.” Popular Music Interest Group Meeting. Society for Music Theory Conference. St. Louis, MO (November 1).

Additional Practice

Musition: Chords
- Jazz Chord Symbols: Levels 1a–2c
- Chords: Levels 1–4
- Transposition: Levels 3–4
- Lead Sheet Analysis: Levels 1–4
Musition: Roman Numerals
- Pop Chords: Levels 1–3
- Diatonic Chords: All Levels
- Chord Progressions: Levels 1a–1c
Musition: Scale Degrees
- Scale Degree Function: Levels 1a–3b
- Scale Degrees: Level 1b, 4d

Fundamentals Review (musictheory.net)
- - Chord Construction: Major Triads | Minor Triads | M, m, dim Triads
  - Key Signatures:
    - - Construction: Major | Minor,
      - ID: Major | Minor
Fundamentals Review (Quizlet)
- - Major Triad Spelling: F/C/G Triads | D/A/E Triads | B Triads | All
  - Triads: Minor Only | ID (All) | Construction (All)
  - Keys: ID (major) | ID (minor) | Construction (major) | Construction (minor)

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