Chords and Intervals

Pick a root and a chord type. Hear it, see it on the keys, read how it is built, and see which note each choir part would sing.

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Root
Type
C major

C · E · G

Semitones from the root: 0 · 4 · 7. Root, major third, perfect fifth.

In a choir: who sings what

One common spacing

Basses usually take the root, so the chord stands on it. Doubling the root, not the third, keeps the chord clear.

Intervals with a song to remember

Tap to hear
IntervalSemitonesStarts like

How a chord is built

  1. Start on the root.
  2. Add a third: four semitones for major, three for minor.
  3. Add the fifth, seven semitones above the root. Add a seventh for a richer sound.

Questions

What is the difference between major and minor?

Only the middle note. A major chord has a major third (four semitones), a minor chord a minor third (three). Major sounds bright, minor darker.

Why is it D♭ and not C♯?

Chords are spelled by letter, so each letter is used once. In a D♭ major chord the notes are D♭, F and A♭.