harmonized chords in major keys

Chords are built by stacking thirds from a scale. When you do this, you will have a set of chords
that all belong to the same key (diatonic). In this example, we will use the C major scale.

C D E F G A B
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Diatonic chords in C major - triads
C D E F G A B
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adding another third above the fifth of the triad creates seventh chords

C7 D7 E7 F7

G7

A7
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B7(b5)
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each chord is identified with a roman numeral representing the scale degree of the root.
Chords built on the major scale will always follow in this order regardless of key.

triads: Imaj II- III- IVmaj Vmaj IV- VIIdim

7ths: IMaj7 II-7 III-7 IVMaj7 V7 VI-7 VII-7b5

Once you are familiar with these numbers, you can play progressions in different keys. The example below
is called a I, IV, V, IV progression in the key of C major.

C F G F

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Imaj IVMaj Vmaj IVmaj

Here's the same I, IV, V, IV progression in the key of F major.

F B C B

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Imaj IVMaj Vmaj IVmaj

dana wright
2 Here are some more major chord progressions. analyize them using roman numeral analysis, then try to figure
them out in other keys.

D7 G7 C7 A7

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
II-7 V7 Imaj7 VI-7

C E F G

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Imaj III- IVmaj Vmaj

C7 A7 D7 G7

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Imaj7 VI-7 II-7 V7

all diatonic chords can be categorized as sounding in one of the three categories: tonic, subdominant, and dominant

C7 D7 E7 F7

G7

A7
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B7(b5)
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Tonic Sub-Dom Tonic Sub-Dom Dominant Tonic Dominant
tonic = implies 'stability and rest'
subdominant = implies 'going somewhere'
dominant = tense, unsettled, wants to resolve to the tonic
The technique of diatonic substitution is very simple. as long as the melody permits, you simply swap out
one chord of the same function for another.
original
Tonic Tonic Sub-Dom Dominant
C A D G

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Imaj VI- II- Vmaj

reharmonized
Tonic Tonic Sub-Dom Dominant
C E F G

V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V V
Imaj III- IVmaj Vmaj

dana wright