UNIT 2 CHORDS
A chord, in music, is any harmonic set of superposed notes sounding simultaneously.
The most frequently encountered chords are triads, so called because they consist
of three distinct notes: the root note, and intervals of a third and a fifth above the
root note. There are also the seventh chords that are rarely found in music, those
are made by adding another third above the fifth of the triad
The triads built on the tonic, subdominant, and dominant are often referred to as
the primary triads because of their strong relationship to each other. The tonic
stands in the center of the tonal system, with the dominant a perfect fifth above
and the subdominant a perfect fifth below.
The roots of these triads begin on the first, fourth, and fifth degrees (respectively)
of the diatonic scale, otherwise symbolized: I, IV, and V (again, respectively).
Primary triads, “express function clearly and unambiguously. The other triads of
the diatonic key include the supertonic, mediant, sub-mediant, and leading-tone,
whose roots begin on the second, third, sixth, and seventh degrees (respectively)
of the diatonic scale, otherwise symbolized: ii, iii, vi, and viio (again, respectively).
They function as auxiliary or supportive triads to the primary triads
Apart from the primary triads, name the secondary triads
2.1.1. Types of triads
There are four types of triads in common use. They are identified by their quality
names: major, minor, diminished and augmented. They are named so basing on
the qualities of intervals that are between the three notes that make a triad. So, it
is based on the number of semi tones where a major third has four semi tones, a
minor has 3 semi tones, a perfect 5th has 7 semi tones and when a semi tone is
increased on them, it becomes augmented and when reduced by a semi tone it
becomes diminished.
a) Major triad
A major triad consists of a major third and a perfect fifth. M3 + P5 = Major
Triad M3
d) Augmented triad
An augmented triad consists of a major third and an augmented fifth. M3 + A5
= Augmented Triad.
2.1.2. Triad name
You can construct a triad on any of the scale degrees. The triad has the same
function name as the individual pitch. Both the pitch C and the C major triad are
the Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdominant, Dominant Submediant, LeadingTone and Tonic.
