What Are The Three Primary Chords For A Song?
There are three primary chords in any major key. They are build off of the first, fourth, and fifth notes of the major scale. We will number the notes of the scale using 1, through 8. For the C major scale the notes are C(1), D(2), E(3), F(4), G(5), A(6), B(7), and C(8).
The chords are based on the 1st, 4th, and 5th notes of the scale are numbered using I, IV, and V.
For example, in the key of C the the three primary chords are: I = C Major, IV = F Major, and V = G Major (will usually be a G7 chord). We will leave off the word major when referring to these chords and call them the C, F, and G chords.
F Major Scale -
The 1 st degree of the scale is F, so that’s the first chord – F Major or C.
The 4 th degree of the scale is Bb, so that’s the second chord – Bb Major or Bb.
The 5 th degree of the scale is C, so that’s the third chord – C Major or C.
Therefore, the primary chords in G Major, are G Major, C Major and D Major.
G Major Scale -
The 1 st degree of the scale is G, so that’s the first chord – G.
The 4 th degree of the scale is C, so that’s the second chord – C.
The 5 th degree of the scale is D, so that’s the third chord – D.]
Therefore, the primary chords in G Major, are G Major, C Major and D Major.
You can do the same thing for all 12 keys. Determine the notes in the major scale for that key. Then choose the first, fourth, and fifth notes of this scale. The three primary chords for that key are based on these notes and uses that name for the name of the chord.
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