Chord Progressions

Just going back to the previous blog 'Music Over Chords", there are a few interesting things we learnt and discussed:

1. Chords are two or more tones/notes, often three notes, played together at the same time. The notes are normally the first, third and fifth step of a scale, called triads. Chords are named after their base note or root.

C-major chord, for example, is based on the scale of C as follows:
C-first step
E-third step
G-fifth step

2. Chord progressions are a series of chords played in sequence, a popular sequence being the chords I, IV and V of a scale, the major chords. Chords II, III, VI and VII are minor chords.

                                                   Chords       I     II     III    IV   V     VI    VII    VIII

3. Major and Minor Chords: The second chord II on the scale of C above is a minor chord because the step between E and F is naturally only a semi or half step. To have a D-major chord, F would need to be F-sharp as the half steps are always between the third and fourth and seventh and eight note of a scale.