Guitar Lesson - Major Scale Chord Structure - Chord Deconstruction
Written by Edward Cupler
Guitar chord triads example.
The following chord triads example shows the notes within the c major scale. Click the arrow to display the notes for each of the seven basic chord triads in the c major scale.
Guitar chord triads shapes (voicings) example.
This next chord triads example show some different options for the seven basic chord triads in the c major scale. Click the chords name below the guitar neck to display the first voicing. Click "NEXT CHORD SHAPE" to display a different shape or voicing for that chord. Click "Play" to hear the guitar chord.
Guitar Lesson Notes
- Chords will use the notes from the scale you're using, for example, if you're using a c major scale the chords will use notes from the c major scale.
- Basic chord triads use three notes, a root, a third and a fifth
- The root is usually the lowest note in the chord and is the note from which the chords name is derived. For example, a C chords root is C, a D chords root is D etc.
- The third is the third note of the scale when counting up from the root note. So, for a C major chord you would count up from the C note, C being one, D would be two and E would be three or the third. For a D minor chord D would be one, E would be two and F would be the third.
- The fifth is the fifth note of the scale when counting up from the root note. So, for a C major chord you would count up from the C note, C being one, D would be two and E would be three or the third, F note would be forth and G would be the fifth. For a D minor chord D would be one, E would be two and F would be the third, G note would be forth and A would be the fifth.
- A chords third is the note that determines if a chord is a major or minor chord. A major third will have an interval of two whole steps or four frets from the chords root note. A minor third will have an interval of one and a half whole steps or three frets from the chords root note.