How Chords are Formed

In any give key certain chords are more common then others. For example in the key of C, the chords C, F and G are usually present, and quite often they are complemented with Am, Dm, and Em. The reason for this is each key has it’s own set of chords constructed from the notes of it’s scale. This is basic music theory and will work starting with any note. We will start with C, consider the scale of C major:

C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII

Chords are constructed by notes that are a 3rd apart in it’s scale. So the following positions would give us the root major chord of a key:

I - II - III

Using the C major scale written above, chords can be constructed by placing 2 third intervals above each note. So a C chord has C, E and G in it.

Here are the chords of the key of C and how they are constructed:

Chord Constructed	C	Dm	Em	F	G	Am	Bo
C Scale	C	D	E	F	G	A	B
III	E	F	G	A	B	C	D
V	G	A	B	C	D	E	F

The chords are always named according to their root note. They are chords in the key of C because they only contain notes from the C scale. This method of constructing chords can be applied to form the chords of any major scale. The result will always produce the chords of whatever root note you start with.

Scale Note	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Chord Constructed	major	minor	minor	major	major	minor	diminished

Chord Substitutions

The chords studied so far involve the placement of 3 notes. The root note of the chord and the 2 third interval notes above it. This method of building chords can be extended by adding another note illustrated below. These chords could then be substituted for chords in the key of C, to color things up.

Chord Constructed	Cmaj7	Dm7	Em7	Fmaj7	G7	Am7	Bo7*
C Scale	C	D	E	F	G	A	B
III	E	F	G	A	B	C	D
VII	B	C	D	E	F	G	A
V	G	A	B	C	D	E	F

From this example chords for any key can be substituted by using the chart below:

Scale Note	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII
Chord Constructed	major seventh	minor seventh	minor seventh	major seventh	seventh	minor seventh	half diminished seventh