Learn to strike the perfect chord

Tuhin Rao
9130007230 tuhinrao@gmail.com
www.tuhinrao.com
Scales
The colour palate of chords
Intervals
The pitch distance between 2 notes

Half Step (Semi-Tone)

Interval between to immediate notes

Whole Step (Tone)

Interval of 2 half steps

Minor Third (Min 3, m3 -3)

Interval of 3 half steps

Major Third (Maj 3, M3 +3)

Interval of 4 half steps or 2 whole steps
Traditional Diatonic Scales
• Major Scale
• W W H W W W H
• T T S T T T S
• Half step between 3-4, 7-8 W W H W W W H
C D E F G A B C

• Natural minor Scale

• W H W W H W W
• T S T T S T T
• Half step between 2-3, 5-6 W H W W H W W
A B C D E F G A
Minor Natural and Harmonic Form
• Natural minor Scale
• W H W W H W W
• T ST T S T T W W
W H W W H
• Half step between 2-3, 5-6
A B C D E F G A

• Harmonic minor Scale

• W H W W H WH H
• T S T T S TS S G#
• 7th note raised by a half step W H W W H WH H
from a natural minor scale
A B C D E F A
Mixolydian Mode
• Major Scale
• W W H W W W H
• T T S T T T S
• Half step between 3-4, 7-8 W W H W W W H
C D E F G A B C

• Mixolydian Mode
• W W H W W H W
• T T S T T S T B♭
• 7th note is lowered from a W W H W W H W
major scale
C D E F G A C
Dorian Mode
• Natural minor Scale
• W H W W H W W
• T ST T S T T
• Half step between 2-3, 5-6 W H W W H W W
A B C D E F G A

• Dorian Mode
• W H W W W H W
F#
• T S T T T S T
• 6th note raised by a half step W H W W W H W
from a natural minor scale A B C D E G A
Chords
Major Chord
• 3 alternate notes of
major scale
+3 -3
• 1-3 Major 3rd
A♭ E♭
• 3-5 Minor 3rd F#
C
G A E♭ +3 -3 +3 -3
5th 5th 5th C E G D A
Min 3 Min 3 Min 3
E F# C
Root Third Fifth
3rd 3rd 3rd
Maj 3 Maj 3 Maj 3
C D A♭
Root Root Root First Second Third
Minor Chord
• 3 alternate notes of
minor scale
• 1-3 Minor 3rd -3 +3
F# C#
• 3-5 Major 3rd E♭

G A C# -3 +3 A -3 +3
5th 5th 5th C G D F A
Maj 3 Maj 3 Maj 3
E♭ F A
3rd 3rd 3rd
Min 3 Min 3 Min 3
C D F#
Root Root Root
Diminished Chord
• 1-3 Minor 3rd
• 3-5 Minor 3rd -3
B♭ D♭
E♭ G♭ A♭
-3
A♭ D♭ -3 -3 -3 -3
G♭
5th 5th 5th C G D F
Min 3 Min 3 Min 3
E♭ F B♭
3rd 3rd 3rd
Min 3 Min 3 Min 3
C D G
Root Root Root
 Always skip an alphabet while naming a chord
A♭ B C D E♭

A♭ C x D#

G# A B C x D#

G# A B# C D#
Nomenclature
Major Minor Diminished

Chord Name Chord Name Chord Name

Root Alphabet in Capital Root Alphabet in Capital followed Root Alphabet in Capital followed
e.g. by ‘m’ by ‘°’
C Major: C e.g. e.g.
G Major: G C minor: Cm B diminished: B°
G minor: Gm G# diminished: G#°

Roman Numerals Roman Numerals Roman Numerals

Root’s Scale degree in Capital
Roman Numerals
e.g.
In C Major, C Major chord:
In G Major, C Major chord:
In F Major, C Major chord:
Root’s Scale degree in small case Root’s Scale degree in small case
Roman Numerals Roman Numerals followed by ‘°’
e.g.
e.g. In C Major, B diminished: vii°
I In C Major, D Minor chord: ii In A Minor, B diminished: ii°
IV In F Major, D Minor chord: vi In A Minor, G# diminished: vii°
V In A Minor, D Minor chord: iv
Chords in a Scale
C Major A Natural Minor A Harmonic Minor
CEG Major I C ACE Minor i Am ACE Minor i Am
DFA Minor ii Dm BDF Diminished ii° B° BDF Diminished ii° B°
EGB Minor iii Em CEG Major III C CEG Major III C
FAC Major IV F DFA Minor iv Dm DFA Minor iv Dm
GBD Major V G EGB Minor v Em E G# B Major V E
ACE Minor vi Am FAC Major VI F FAC Major VI F
BDF Diminished vii° B° GBD Major ♭VII G G# B D Diminished vii° G#°

C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D

G# G#
C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D
Moods of Modes
C Mixolydian Mode A Dorian Mode

CEG Major I C ACE Minor i Am

DFA Minor ii Dm B D F# Minor ii Bm
E G B♭ Diminished iii° E° CEG Major III C
FAC Major IV F D F# A Major IV D
G B♭ D Minor v Gm EGB Minor v Em
ACE Minor vi Am F# A C Diminished vi° F#°
B♭ D F Major ♭VII B GBD Major ♭VII G

B♭
C D E F G A C D E F

F#
A B C D E G A B C D
Primary Chords I IV V or i iv v/V
C Major A Natural Minor A Harmonic Minor
CEG Major I C ACE Minor i Am ACE Minor i Am

FAC Major IV F DFA Minor iv Dm DFA Minor iv Dm

GBD Major V G EGB Minor v Em E G# B Major V E

G C D E A B E A B

E A B C F G C F G

C D E F G A B A B C D E F G A B C D E F G

I IV V i iv v i iv V
Secondary Chords ii, iii, vi, vii° or ii°, III, VI, ♭VII
C Major A Natural Minor

DFA Minor ii Dm BDF Diminished ii° B°

EGB Minor iii Em CEG Major III C

ACE Minor vi Am FAC Major VI F

BDF Diminished vii° B° GBD Major ♭VII G
Simple Chord Progression rules
Always works Works sometimes

Using only I and V Up in 3rds

Using only Primary Chords Down in 2nds

Up a 4th – Down a 5th

Down in 3rds

Up in 2nds
Simple Chord Progressions
Major scale Minor scale 12 Bar Blues

I V Chopsticks I VI Californication I I I I

I IV V Rock ‘n’ Roll i VI ♭VII v Set fire to the rain IV IV I I

V IV I I
I vi ii V Blue Moon i ♭VII VI V Andalusian Cadence
Hit the Road Jack
Sultans of Swing
Boogie Blues
I V vi IV Let it be

I vi IV V D’yer Maker
Introduction to Jazz Harmony
Chords built on 7ths, 9ths and 13ths
Dominant 7th (V7)

F
7th
Min 3
-7th from Root G- F

D
5th
+3 -3 -3
Min 3
G B D F
B G Major
3rd Chord
Maj 3 -7th
G
Root • Major chord and -3 from 5th
• Major chord and -7 from root
Minor 7th (m7)

C
7th
Min 3
-7th from Root D- C

A
5th
-3 +3 -3
Maj 3
D F A C
F D Minor
3rd Chord
Min 3 -7th
D
Root • Minor chord and -3 from 5th
• Minor chord and -7 from root
An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

C F C Dm7 C G7 C
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!
I IV I ii7 I V7 I

C Dm7 C G7 C Dm7 C G7

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,

I ii7 I V7 I ii7 I V7
Major 7th (M7)

B
7th
Maj 3
+7th from Root C- B

G
5th
+3 -3 +3
Min 3
C E G B
E C Major
3rd Chord
Maj 3 +7th

C • Major chord and +3 from 5th

Root
• Major chord and +7 from root
The Half diminished 7th (ø7) or (°7 ♭5)

A
7th
Maj 3
-7th from Root B - A

F
5th
-3 -3 +3
Min 3
B D F A
D B diminished
3rd Chord
Min 3 -7th
B
Root
• Diminished chord and +3 from 5th
• Diminished chord and -7 from root
The diminished 7th (°7 )

A♭
7th
Min 3
F A♭
All -3 intervals

5th
-3 -3 -3
Min 3
B D F
D B diminished
3rd Chord
Min 3
B • Diminished chord and -3 from 5th
Root
• All intervals are -3
How and when to use 7ths
• All progressions can be extended using 7ths

• May not always work

• Alternating between 7ths and triads produce interesting results

 Em: E G B D : Em7

Autumn Leaves F#°: F# A C E : F#ø7

E minor (Natural and Harmonic)

G G B D F# : GM7

F# D#
A: A C E G : Am7

E G A B C D E
B: B D# F# A : B7

D D♭ C C♭ B C: C E G B : CM7
B B♭ A A♭ G
D: D F# A C : D7
G G F F E

E E♭ D D♭ C Chromatic descending roots

Em7 E♭7 Dm7 D♭7 CM7

9th (G9) A
9th
Maj 3
F
7th

+9th from Root G- A

Min 3

-7th from Root G- F

D
+3 -3 -3 +3 5th optional
G A B D F A Min 3
B G Major
+9th 3rd Chord
Maj 3
G
•7th chord and +3 from 7th Root

• 7th chord and +9 from root

9th (G9) add9 (G add9)
A A
9th 9th
Maj 3
F No 7th
7th
7th
+9th from Root G- A

+9th from Root G- A

Min 3
-7th from Root G- F

D D
5th optional 5th optional

Min 3 Min 3
B G Major B G Major
3rd Chord 3rd Chord
Maj 3 Maj 3
G G
Root Root
Dominant Minor 9th (G7 ♭9) A♭
♭ 9th
Min 3
F
7th

-9th from Root G- F

A♭ A♭ Min 3

-7th from Root G- F

D
+3 -3 -3 -3 5th optional
G B D F Min 3
B G Major
-9th 3rd Chord
Maj 3
• 7th chord and -3 from 7th G
Root
• 7th chord and -9 from root
Autumn Leaves with B7 ♭9 Em: E G B D : Em7
E Harmonic minor
F#°: F# A C E : F#ø7

G G B D F# : GM7
F# D#

E G A B C E A: A C E G : Am7

B D# F# A C : B7 ♭9 B: B D# F# A : B7

C: C E G B : CM7

D: D F# A C : D7
Minor 9th (Dm 9) E
9th
Maj 3
C
7th

+9th from Root D- E

Min 3

-7th from Root D- C

A
+3 5th optional
D E F A C E Min 3
F D minor
+9th 3rd Chord
Maj 3
• Minor 7th chord and +3 from 7th D
Root
• Minor 7th chord and +9 from root
 G9 G7 ♭9 G add9 Gm 9

+9th from Root G- A

A A♭ A A
9th ♭ 9th 9th 9th
Maj 3 Min 3 Maj 3
F F F
NO 7th
7th 7th 7th
+9th from Root G- A

+9th from Root G- A

+9th from Root D- E

Min 3 Min 3 Min 3
-7th from Root G- F

-7th from Root G- F

-7th from Root D- C

D D D D
5th 5th 5th 5th
Min 3 Min 3 Min 3 Maj 3
G Major

G Minor
G Major

G Major
B B B B♭
3rd 3rd 3rd 3rd
Maj 3 Maj 3 Maj 3 Min 3
G G G G
Root Root Root Root
 E
13th (G13) 13th

A
optional
9th
Maj 3

+13th from Root G- E

F
7th
Min 3
G B D F A E

-7th from Root G- F

D
5th optional

+13th Min 3
B G Major
•7th chord and +7 from 7th 3rd Chord
• 7th chord and +13 from root Maj 3
G
Root
 G ♭13
G13 E
13th
E♭
♭13th

A A
9th 9th G6
Maj 3 Maj 3
+13th from Root G- E

+13th from Root G- E

F F E
7th 7th 6th
Min 3 Min 3 Maj 2

+6th from Root G- E

-7th from Root G- F

-7th from Root G- F

D D D
5th 5th 5th
Min 3 Min 3 Min 3
G Major

G Major

G Major
B B B
3rd 3rd 3rd
Maj 3 Maj 3 Maj 3
G G G
Root Root Root
More about Dominant Harmony
Altered and Secondary dominants
 Secondary Dominants
• The Dominant is the 5th note of a Major/Minor scale
• The Dominant of any chord in a scale other than the I chord is
called a secondary dominant.
• Can form long chains of secondary dominants

I: C ii: Dm iii: Em IV: F V: G vi: Am

Dominant V: G(7) V: A(7) V: B(7) V: C(7) V: D(7) V: E(7) Secondary Dominants

V: D(7) V: E(7) V: F(7) V: G(7) V: A(7) V: B(7) Also Secondary Dominants

An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

C F C Dm7 C G7 C

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

I IV I ii7 I V7 I

C Dm7 C G7 A7 Dm7 D9 G7

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,

I ii7 I V7 V7/ii ii7 V9/V V7

C7 F A7 Dm7 D9 G7 C

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

V7/IV IV V7/ii ii7 V9/V V7 I
An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

C F C Dm7 C G7 C

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

I IV I ii7 I V7 I

A A
G G G F F
E E
D D
C C C

♭9 ♭9 13
CM7 A9 A7 ♭9 Dm 9 D ♭9 G6 A7 ♭9 Dm7 D♭7 CM7 B♭7 A7 D9 G7 C6

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

V7♭9 V9 13
I7 V9/ii V7♭9/ii ii 9 V7♭9/V V6 V7♭9/ii ii7 ♭II7 I7 Alt
/ii /V
V7 I6
V7 ♭9
/VI
V7
An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

C Dm7 C G7 A7 Dm7 D9 G7

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,

I ii7 I V7 V7/ii ii7 V9/V V7

G G
G G
F F
F F E E
E E
D
D

CM7 Dm7 Em7 F6 G7 ♭9 CM7 D♭7 Dm7 E♭7 Em7 FM7 G7 ♭9

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,
I7 ii7 iii7 IV6 V7♭9 I7 ♭II7 ii7 ♭III7 iii7 iv°7 V7♭9
An old French melody English words by Jane & Ann Taylor (1806)

♭9 ♭9 13
CM7 A9 A7 ♭9 Dm 9 D ♭9 G6 A7 ♭9 Dm7 D♭7 CM7 B♭7 A7 D9 G7 C6

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are!

V7♭9 V9 13
I7 V9/ii V7♭9/ii ii 9 V7♭9/V V6 V7♭9/ii ii7 ♭II7 I7 Alt
/ii /V
I6
V7 ♭9
/VI
V7

CM7 Dm7 Em7 F6 G7 ♭9 CM7 D♭7 Dm7 E♭7 Em7 FM7 G7 ♭9

Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky,
I7 ii7 iii7 IV6 V7♭9 I7 ♭II7 ii7 ♭iII7 iii7 IV7 V7♭9
Altered Dominant chords
G13 G7 (13 ♭9) G7 (♭9 #11 13)
E E E
13th 13th 13th

C#
#11t
h

A A♭ A♭
9th ♭ 9th ♭ 9th

Maj 3 Maj 3 Maj 3

F F F
7th 7th 7th

Min 3 Min 3 Min 3

D D D

-7th from Root G- F

-7th from Root G- F
-7th from Root G- F

5th 5th 5th

Min 3 Min 3 Min 3

G Major
G Major
G Major

B B B
3rd 3rd 3rd

Maj 3 Maj 3 Maj 3

G G G
Root Root Root
 Chasing Pavements - Adele Cm: C E♭ G B♭ : Cm7
C Minor Scale (Natural and Harmonic)
D°: D F A♭ C : Dø7

E♭
E♭: E♭ G B♭ D :E♭M7
A♭ B♭

C D F G B C Fm: F A♭ C E♭ : Fm7

Gm: G B♭ D F : Gm7
G G
Root 7th

F F G: G B D F : G7
7th 5th
Gm7/B♭ = B♭6
D D A♭: A♭ C E♭ G :A♭M7
5th 3rd

B♭ B♭ B♭: B♭ D F A♭ : B♭7
3rd Root
Riders on the storm – The Doors Em: E G B D : Em7

E Dorian and Natural minor F#m: F# A C# E : F#m7

G: G B D F : Gm7

F# C#
A: A C# E G : A7
E G A B C D E
Am: A C E G : Am7

Treble Em D/A Treble Am Bm C D Bm: B D F# A : Bm7

Bass Bass
Note E E Note A A A A C#°: C# E G G : C#ø7

C: C E G B : CM7

D: D F# A C : D7
 Wots… Uh the Deal- Pink Floyd
G Major
G E
8 F#
F 6
+7
-7 E E
6 D# D# 6 D#
#5 #5 #5
D C
D D D D 5th
D
A
G Major

B B B B B B B B B
F#
G G G G G G G G G
D
Root

G GM7 G7 G6 Em+7 G G+ G6 G+ D7