Part 1

If you are going to learn how to write a song, it is critical to have a solid understanding of not only chord theory, but also the emotion and feeling that each chord has.  In music chords tends to have a connection to certain emotions or feelings.  It is critical to understand this emotional connection to chords when we are writing music.  Major chord tend to have a positive, happy or upbeat feel to them.  Though it is possible to express sadness with them as well, depending on the feel and the progression of chords.  They are the most flexible in portraying a wide range of moods.

To gain a better understand of the way chords are built we must first understand the major scale. Lets take the C major scale for example. The notes in a C major scale are C D E F G A B. Now that we know the notes of the major scale we can build the chords involved with the key of C by stacking thirds.  Stacking thirds is basically stacking every other note. To make a C major chord all we need is three notes. Starting on C we will go every other note until we get C E G. These are the three primary notes in the C major chord. C is called the root note, E is called the third an G is called the fifth. All of your major chords will be built from a root, third and fifth note.

Major chords are the most important chords in music and songwriting; all other chordal building structure is based on them.

A simple major chord is built from 3 notes called a major triad.  The first, the third and the fifth. The first being the root note of the chord.

Example: C Major Chord consist of the notes C/E/G First(root)/Third/Fifth.

In a future lesson of how to write a song, we will be looking at the minor chord and chords built from it.

Any comments?