Theory Part 3 Chords

Question 1

How is a major chord constructed?

Answer 1

Major 3rd + Minor 3rd

1 3 5

I.e. Skip one tone every time)

Question 2

How is a Minor chord constructed?

Answer 2

Minor 3rd + Major 3rd

1 b3 5

Question 3

How is a Diminished chord constructed?

Answer 3

Minor 3rd + minor 3rd

1 b3 b5

Creates tension and disonence

Question 4

How is a augmented chord constructed?

Answer 4

Major 3rd + Major 3rd

1 3 #5

(Major chord with sharpened 5th)

Creates mystery and suspense

Question 5

What is a four note chord called?

Answer 5

A Tetrad

Question 6

How many types of Tetrad are there and what are they?

Answer 6

4 Types

Major 7th (maj 7)  1 3 5 7
Dominant 7th (7) 1 3 5 b7
Minor 7th (m7) 1 b3 5 b7
Minor 7th b5 (m7b5) 1 b3 b5 b7

Question 7

What is a b5 also known as and why?

Answer 7

A Tritons as it is 3 tones above the root.

Question 8

What is the chord sequence for all major keys?

Answer 8

Major-minor-minor-major-major-minor-diminished

Question 9

What is an inversion (as it pertains to a chord)?

Answer 9

The order of the notes are changed.

Question 10

What happens to a chord in a 1st inversion?

Answer 10

The first note is moved to the end / top

E.g. C E G (1 3 5)
E G C (3 5 1)

Or you could say start the original chord from the second note.

Question 11

What happens to a chord in a 2nd inversion?

Answer 11

The first note is moved forwards again

e.g. E G C (3 5 1) becomes G C E (5 1 3)

Or you could say start the original chord from the last note.

Question 12

Explain what a slash chord is?

Answer 12

Slash chords show the inversion

C/E (C over E)

The left hand side shows the chord
The right hand side shows what the starting note of the chord is.

Question 13

What is a progression and how is it written?

Answer 13

A progression is chords in a musical order.

They are written in Roman numerals.

Question 14

What is a common Rock and Blues chord progression?

Answer 14

I IV V

1 4 5

Question 15

What is the ‘Doo-Wop chord progression? (50s and 60s)

Answer 15

I VIm IV V

1 m6 4 5

Question 16

What is a common modern pop chord progression?

Answer 16

I V VIm IV

1 5 m6 4

Question 17

What is a common Jazz chord progression?

Answer 17

I VIm IIm V

1 m6 m2 5

Question 18

What is a cadence?

Answer 18

The progression of two chords that bring a phrase to the end.

Question 19

What kind of cadence is V - I?

Answer 19

A Perfect Cadence

So named as it is the purest form of tension and release.

Question 20

What chord does the natural Minor start on?

Answer 20

VIm

m6

Question 21

What is the chord sequence for a natural Minor Scale?

Answer 21

Minor-diminished-major-minor-minor-major-major

Im - IIdim - bIII - IVm - Vm - bVI - bVII

Question 22

When playing in a natural Minor what ‘trick’ can be used to resolve the issue of Vm - Im not being a perfect cadence?

Answer 22

‘Borrow’ a 7th from the harmonic Minor scale and put it in the V chord

So Vm - Im becomes V7 - Im

Question 23

How is a Major 7th constructed?

Answer 23

1 3 5 7 Maj 3rd + Min 3rd + Maj 7th

Question 24

How is a Major 9th constructed?

Answer 24

1 3 5 7 9

Question 25

How is a Minor 7th constructed?

Answer 25

1 b3 5 b7 Min 3rd + Min 3rd + m7th

Question 26

How is a Sus 2 constructed?

Answer 26

1 2 5

Suspended chords replace the 3rd with either a 2 or 4

Question 27

How is a Sus4 constructed?

Answer 27

1 4 5

Suspended chords replace the 3rd with either a 2 or 4

Question 28

How is a 7Sus4 constructed?

Answer 28

1 4 5 b7

Dominant 7th with suspended 4th

Question 29

How is a 9Sus4 constructed?

Answer 29

1 4 5 b7 9

Dominant 9th with suspended 4th

Question 30

How is a Diminished 7 (◦7) constructed?

Answer 30

1b3 b5 bb5

Question 31

How is a Dom 7 (7) constructed?

Answer 31

1 3 5 b7

Min 3rd + Maj 3rd + m7th