How Major Chords are Built on Guitar Part 1

Guitar Chord Theory: How to Build a Major Chord Part 1

Chords

Chords provide accompaniment and support for melodies.

There are many different types of chords.  The most common are called triads.

Triads

A triad is a chord that contains three different notes.

To understand how chords are built, we return to the major scale.

Take the first, third and fifth notes from the C major scale and you will have a C major chord.

 

how major chords are built on guitar - c major scale

When you take 1-3-5 from the major scale you have a major triad.

The C major triad consists of C-E-G.

Let’s look at another example.

G major: Formula -> 1 3 5

Take the first, third and fifth notes out of the G major scale.

G major:

G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G

Therefore the notes in a G major chord are:

 

G    B    D

1     3    5

In our next tutorial, we will look at how to build major chords on the guitar fretboard.

Are you ready to totally understand guitar theory?
Absolute Essentials of Music Theory for Guitar

 


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