A Last Bit of Theory

Knowing how chords are derived from scales is very useful. It will help you know which modes work with various chords. In music theory this is called ‘harmonizing a scale and producing chords’.

To build a chord, we’ll take every other note in a C scale. This will give us intervals of thirds.

The first chord would be composed of C, E and G. This would make a C major triad. Using the same formula of skipping every other note, the next three notes we’d use would be D, F, and A, which makes a D minor triad. The next three notes we’d use are E, G, and B, which makes an E minor triad.

This is the result of harmonizing all the notes in the C scale: C major. D minor. E minor. F major. G major. A minor. B diminished.

We can also harmonize scales with four notes. C, E, G, and B are the first four notes using every other interval. This makes a C major 7 chord. The next four notes are D, F,A, C, which makes a D minor 7 chord.

This is the result of harmonizing the notes in a C major scale: C major 7. D minor 7. E minor 7. F major 7. G7. A minor 7. B minor 7b5.

These chords correspond to the modes: