Is this some reference to that Batman episode called Birds of a Feather?
In this tutorial, we are going to talk about what chords are part of a scale. So, let's have some fun.
2. Chords of a scale
When wanting to write a riff, it is important to understand what chords you can use in order for the riff to stay part of a single scale. In this tutorial, we will be focusing on the major and natural minor scales, with the harmonic and melodic ones being discussed separately. We will also only focus on the basic chords (e.g., major, minor, augmented and diminished).
As you know, the major and minor scales, which are also known as diatonic scales, have 7 different notes in them. And on each note, you can form a different type of chord. How does one figure it out though? It's easier than you think.
Let's take the C major scale as an example. We know that the 7 notes of the scale are C, D, E, F, G, A and B. In order to figure out the chord formed on each note, we need to build the major, minor, augmented or diminished triad for each note, using only the notes that are part of the C major scale of course. This yields the following:
When it comes to the A minor scale, the chords are the same ones, with the only difference being that you start with Am.
Everything that I have just mentioned can be generalized for all scales using the following table:
The table specifies the chord quality for each degree.
And with that, we conclude this tutorial. In the next one, we are going to discuss the CAGED system for major chords. See you then.
- Topics of discussion
- Chords of a scale
In this tutorial, we are going to talk about what chords are part of a scale. So, let's have some fun.
2. Chords of a scale
When wanting to write a riff, it is important to understand what chords you can use in order for the riff to stay part of a single scale. In this tutorial, we will be focusing on the major and natural minor scales, with the harmonic and melodic ones being discussed separately. We will also only focus on the basic chords (e.g., major, minor, augmented and diminished).
As you know, the major and minor scales, which are also known as diatonic scales, have 7 different notes in them. And on each note, you can form a different type of chord. How does one figure it out though? It's easier than you think.
Let's take the C major scale as an example. We know that the 7 notes of the scale are C, D, E, F, G, A and B. In order to figure out the chord formed on each note, we need to build the major, minor, augmented or diminished triad for each note, using only the notes that are part of the C major scale of course. This yields the following:
- the triad formed on the C note is C-E-G, which is a major triad
- the triad formed on the D note is D-F-A, which is a minor triad
- the triad formed on the E note is E-G-B, which is a minor triad
- the triad formed on the F note is F-A-C, which is a major triad
- the triad formed on the G note is G-B-D, which is a major triad
- the triad formed on the A note is A-C-E, which is a minor triad
- the triad formed on the B note is B-D-F, which is a diminished triad
When it comes to the A minor scale, the chords are the same ones, with the only difference being that you start with Am.
Everything that I have just mentioned can be generalized for all scales using the following table:
| scale type/degree | I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII |
| major scale | major | minor | minor | major | major | minor | diminished |
| minor scale | minor | diminished | major | minor | minor | major | major |
The table specifies the chord quality for each degree.
And with that, we conclude this tutorial. In the next one, we are going to discuss the CAGED system for major chords. See you then.
