Piano chords

  • Best simple explanation from Hoffman Academy.
  • 12 tones in chromatic scale
  • Half step between each tone
  • Major chords: root + major 3rd( 4 half steps) to third + minor 3rd (3 half steps) to fifth e.g. C
  • Minor chords: root + minor 3rd to third + major 3rd to fifth e.g. Cm
  • Diminished chords: root + minor 3rd to third + minor 3rd to fifth e.g. C dim
  • Augmented chords: root + major 3rd to third + major 3rd to fifth e.g. C aug
  • 7th chords: chord + minor 3rd. e.g. C7
  • maj 7th chords: chord + major 3rd e.g. C maj7