MASTER CHORDS IN YOUR MUSIC

YOUR QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO USING CHORDS

HOW IS IT ALL CONNECTED?
Melodies are Intervals in a series.

Harmony is an interval played together.

Chords are stacks of harmonies.

Chord Progressions are chords played in a series.

THE FOUNDATIONS OF MUSIC
Interval = The Distance between 2 notes

Rhythm = A Pattern of Sound in Time

Melody = Intervals played in a series

Harmony = 2 notes played at the same time

Chord = Stack of Harmonies

LEARN ALL MAIN INTERVALS & HARMONIES
PERFECT UNISON = 0 half steps What are Intervals & Harmony in Music?
MINOR 2ND = 1 half step
MAJOR 2ND = 2 half steps Intervals and Harmony are the building
MINOR 3RD = 3 half steps blocks of music. You use them to create
MAJOR 3RD = 4 half steps melodies, chords, harmony lines...Basically
PERFECT 4TH = 5 half steps they are the core incredients to tell your story
TRITONE = 6 half steps
with music.
PERFECT 5TH = 7 half steps
MINOR 6TH = 8 half steps
Intervals = 2 notes played after each other
MAJOR 6TH = 9 half steps
Harmony = 2 notes played at the same time
MINOR 7TH = 10 half steps
MAJOR 7TH = 11 half steps
PERFECT OCTAVE = 12 half steps
CHORDS - PLAYING STYLES
Smooth Blocks Chords are sustained chords played as long blocks.

Rhythmic Block Chords are block chords cut up into a rhythmic pattern.

Arpeggios are broken chords, played as a flowing sequencer, one note at a time.

Comping Rhythm a mix between all playing styles, focused on groove and rhythm.
CHORD INVERSIONS
Chord Inversions are chords of the same type, but with a different “color”.

How to create a Chord Inversion? 


The standard way of playing a chord, is a straight pattern, for example: Root + 3rd + 5th.

But you can transpose the root up an octave which alters the pattern into “3rd + 5th + Root”.

This is called the first inversion. Then you can transpose the new low note up an octave too,
which alters the pattern to “5th + Root + 3rd”, called the second inversion.

Example: C Major

1. Root Position (Standard) = C + E + G

2. First inversion = E + G + C

3. Second inversion = G + C + E
CHORD - VOICE LEADING
Voice Leading = how various voices lead into each other from one chord into the next. 



Big Intervals between the Notes when changing chords creates a jumpy, action style vibe in
the chord progression. It can even create a sense of chaos if overdone.

Short Intervals between the Notes when changing chord creates a smooth transition, and is
perfect when you don’t want the chord changes to attract attention.



Mike’s Bonus Tip: Generally it is recommended to aim towards the “shorter intervals” in chord
changes, because you most often want your chords to be a background element. However,
remember that it is a creative choice in all cases.
CHORD PROGRESSION RHYTHM
Chord Progression Rhythm = The Length and Timing of each chord in your progression.

As a composer you have complete creative freedom of how long each chord is played. So for
each chord in your chord progression, you can choose if it should be played for 1 bar, 2 bars,
half a bar...even a quarter bar. Remember: Technically is still the same chord progression, but it
sounds so very different, because of the length and timing of your “chord progression rhythm”.

Mike’s Bonus Tip: A common mistake most new composers make, is to only use chord
changes every bar. Why would you want to restrict yourself like that? I challenge you to start
using more chord changes. Because it adds more depth, more variation, and as a result a more
interesting and engaging character in your music.
DIATONIC CHORDS
Diatonic Chords = All chords that only uses notes from within the scale of your song.
Since a standard musical scale has 7 notes (+ the octave), you also have 7 diatonic chords.
Here are the Diatonic Chord Patterns for the 2 most common scales in music.

Major Scale Natural Minor Scale

I – Major I – minor
II – minor II – diminished
III – minor III – major
IV – Major IV – minor
V – Major V – minor
VI – minor VI – major
VII – diminished VII – major
THE 3 STRONG CHORDS

The 3 strong chords (I - IV - V) 


The 1st, 4th and 5th diatonic chords of the scale of your song. In music theory scale degrees
are name from Roman numerals, so in this case: I + IV + V.

These 3 chords have a strong mathematical relationship of the frequencies, that basically binds
them together. You can see these 3 chords as the “Core Family”, and the other diatonic chords
as the “Best Friends”. Most of the time the core family will spend with each other.

Mike’s Bonus Tip: Embrace the Power of the 3 strong chords. They are the foundation of
basically all music ever written, in all styles and genres. Use them as the “main ingredients”
when you write your music stories.
HARMONIES ARE RELATIONSHIPS
Chords and harmony is what add depth in music. What kind of depth and emotional tone, is
your choice as a composer. For every melody there are millions of choices for the harmonic
storyline to support it, meaning the chord you choose, the length of each chord in the
progression, and the rhythm and playing style of each chord.

Chords & Harmonies are formed automatically from Relationships

Whenever you have 2 or more voices, meaning melodic lines, playing different parts at the
same time. You will form a harmonic relationship between them. This means, that chords and
harmonies in music, does not have to be played by one specific instrument, like for example a
strumming guitar, or comping piano. In fact, Chords and harmonies are automatically formed,
from the relationship between all parts playing in your track.
10 PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES ON USING CHORDS IN PRACTICE
Guideline 1 - Chords vs Melody Factor (Harmonic Foundation vs Counterpoint Harmony)
Guideline 2 - Mood vs Action Factor (Long Sustained Chords vs Rhythmic Playing Styles)
Guideline 3 - Stability vs Flow Factor (Big Stable Blocks vs Running Chord Notes)
Guideline 4 - Up vs Down Factor (Build Energy vs Calm Down)
Guideline 5 - Chords for Transitions (The Power of Passing chords & Voice Leading)
Guideline 6 - Dynamics for Emotion (The Amazing Emotion of Dynamics and Movement)
Guideline 7 - Simplicity is Powerful (1,4,5) (How you Play the Notes > What Notes you Play)
Guideline 8 - Closed vs Open Chords (Add Depth and Space by opening up the chords)
Guideline 9 - Build vs Reduce Energy (Crescendo vs Diminuendo)
Guideline 10 - Tension vs Resolve (Dissonant vs Consonant)
 CONGRATULATIONS!
NOW TAKE ACTION TO USE YOUR NEW SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE