User Manual

203
Chord Progressions
The chords that were introduced in the “Chord Studies” category can be combined in a series to create a song. This
series of chords is called a chord progression.
Musical styles all have their own standard chord progressions, but first let’s try playing some basic chords.
Notes can be combined in a number of different ways to make chords, but the
most basic combination is three notes stacked in thirds forming a triad. Stack-
ing notes on top of the root makes a chord based on the root note.
Stacking three notes separated by thirds is called a triad.
The tones are named “root” upon which the chord is based, “third” which is
a third above the root, and “fifth” which is another third up.
Use the Chord Progression Category to gain experience using chords. The
root is marked as “
” for easy reference.
Diatonic Triads of a C Major Scale
Let’s see how this works using a C major scale.
Using each note of the C scale as a root, two notes are stacked vertically onto each root to form the corresponding
chord. These chords are marked with Roman numerals to indicate the scale degree on which each chord is built. So
starting with C, it is labeled as I for the 1st degree, D is labeled II for the 2nd degree, E is III for the 3rd degree and so
on up to B which is labeled VII for the 7th degree.
Major Chord Minor Chord Minor Chord Major Chord Major Chord Minor Chord
Diminished
Chord
Major Chord
* The same chords are shown in the bass clef below.
* “Maj1245” that appears in the LCD indicates Maj=Major and 1245= I, II, IV, V. min = minor.
* Due to the instrument’s limitations, some chord names are displayed by their enharmonic chord name.
ex. Score “D
b
”
g
displayed “C
#
”
Fifth
Third
Root