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Six Strings

Building chords and keys

Triads, keys and the chords inside them.

  1. Building triads from intervalsMajor and minor chords as stacked thirds, with formulas you can apply to any root.Builds on: Intervals and root notes, The major scale
  2. Major keys and diatonic chordsThe seven chords that belong to a key, and the Roman numerals that name them.Builds on: Building triads from intervals
  3. Minor keys and relative chordsThe chords of a natural minor key and how they relate to the relative major.Builds on: Major keys and diatonic chords, The natural minor scale

Using harmony

Progressions, richer chords and smooth movement.

  1. Progressions and transposingWrite progressions with numerals and move them to any key.Builds on: Major keys and diatonic chords
  2. Seventh chordsMajor 7, dominant 7 and minor 7: the formulas, shapes and what they do.Builds on: Major keys and diatonic chords
  3. Suspended and add9 chordsReplace or extend the third to make chords that feel open.Builds on: Building triads from intervals
  4. Inversions and voice leadingPlay chords on the top strings and move between them with minimal motion.Builds on: Building triads from intervals, Progressions and transposing
  5. Seventh-chord inversionsFour voicings of one seventh chord, and how the bass note changes its pull.Builds on: Seventh chords, Inversions and voice leading
  6. Slash chords and moving bass linesRead chords like G/B and Am/G, and use them to walk the bass between chords.Builds on: Inversions and voice leading

Practical checkpoint

Module 3 checkpoint: analyse and transpose

Pick a progression from a song you know. Write it with Roman numerals, then play it in two other keys. Check your work against the reference library.

You are ready for the next module when you can honestly say:

  • I can spell a major or minor triad from a root using its formula.
  • I can list the seven diatonic chords of G, C and D major without looking.
  • I can write a progression with Roman numerals and transpose it to a new key.
  • I can tell a major 7th, dominant 7th and minor 7th apart by ear and by formula.
  • I can play the same progression with two different voicings of at least one chord.

9 lessons in this module are not complete yet. You can still attempt the checkpoint whenever you like.