Year 8 · Music · Chords and genres · Lesson 1
Major and minor chords
Major and minor triads: chords, root-third-fifth, counting semitones (major 4+3, minor 3+4), how the third changes the mood, with chords played in the video.
18-minute video lesson
Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.
Watch free for a monthWhat your child will learn
- Explain what a chord and a triad are
- Build major and minor triads by counting semitones
- Hear the difference between major and minor
- Change a major chord into a minor chord
The method
- Root.
- Up 4 (major) or 3 (minor).
- Up to the fifth.
- Listen.
Key words: chord, triad, major, minor, semitone, root, third, harmony.
Worked examples
The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.
Question 1
What is a chord?
- Step 1: Together
Answer: two or more notes played at the same time
Question 2
How many notes are in a triad?
- Step 1: Tri-
Answer: 3
Question 3
Name the three notes of a triad.
- Step 1: R, 3, 5
Answer: root, third, fifth