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<u>'''Triads</u> ''' are chords composed of a root note and its third and fifth - these are the most common type of chords. There are 4 main types of triads:
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{{Top-Level Crumbs|1}}
{{Beginner Lesson Crumbs|12}}
This lesson introduces us to chords and harmonic function in tonal and diatonic context. We specifically focus on the C major chord in open position.
== PreReqs ==
|C Major Chord#Harmonic Theory: Tonality and the I Chord|Theory}}
Let's talk about chords. A <u>'''chord</u> ''' is three or more notes simultaneously. One of the notes is called the <u>'''root note</u>'''. Other notes are classified in terms of the intervals they create with the root note (ie their distance from the root note).
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A basic '''''major '' chord''' is root, major third, and perfect fifth. For a C Major chord, that's C as the root, E as the M3 and G as the P5. The C Major chord is spelled CEG or (C E G) or C-E-G.
Often, a chord spans more than one octave, reusing the same set of notes in a higher octave. For example, C2 E2 G2 C3 E3 is 5 notes, but all 5 notes are found in the C major triad. This is still a C major chord.
|C Major Chord#Harmonic Theory: Tonality and the I Chord|Theory}}
Usually the short name in the 2nd rightmost -to-last column in the table above is used to denote a chord. This includes the root and an optional quality. When only the root is present, this indicates a major chord. Chord symbols typically appear above sheet music or tab as follows:
C Am F C
E-0----|0----|1----|0----|
E------|-----|-----|-----|
Sometimes, minor chords are written as lowercase letters, but I avoid this; as this would make B{{f}} minor appear like b{{b}}, which in a monospace font often used for tab is <tt>bb</tt>, which is confusing. Notice tab shows the frets to hold to play each chord. Since chords are often played repetitively, tabbing out chords can be unnecessary and distracting. Also, tab doesn't indicate the preferred fingering to use. Instead, tab or sheet music will usually give '''chord charts''' for all of the '''chord shapes''' used in the song before the song starts. Chord shapes indicate not simply the notes or fingers used, but the pattern of notes across all the strings for a particular voicing, given a certain tuning. Eventually, we will see that chord shapes can be moved all over the fretboard. For the above example, you'd see:
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|C Major Chord#Harmonic Theory: Tonality and the I Chord|Theory}}
Usually, the root note of the chord is also the lowest-pitched note, or bass note. This gives a strong harmonic foundation where the intervals created by the other notes can be clearly heard and felt. However, the third or fifth can also be the bass note. This is called an <u>'''inversion</u>'''. Inversions are numbered by the bass note's relation to the root note in the chord.
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=== Why Invert? ===
So what's the point of using an inverted chord vs. root position? This mainly deals with '''[[Voice Leading|voice leading]]''', which can get a little advanced. Basically, even if an instrument is used in a strictly harmonic function, each note of a chord being played should be treated as an individual voice, as though it were one person in a chorus. When changing chords, each voice can keep the same pitch, move higher, or move lower. Classical voice leading has a number of guidelines to make transitions smooth, natural, and pleasant. They highlight the harmonic content of the change moreso than the pitch changes. Let's look at some chord changes, trying to use as little movement as possible for each voice.
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|C Major Chord#Harmonic Theory: Tonality and the I Chord|Theory}}
In any given key, the chord with the same root note as the first note in the scale is the <u>'''I chord</u> ''' (that's Roman numeral 1, not the letter "i"). Roman numerals are typically used in analysis or composition to indicate a diatonic chord for a common 7-note scale, with the number matching the <u>'''scale degree</u> ''' (the number at which the note appears in the scale). Their usage translates to any key - C major is the I chord in the key of C Major, while A major is the I chord of A Major.
The I chord grounds the tonality of the piece, and often occurs as the first and/or last chord in the song and/or smaller passages.
=== Tonality ===
[[Music_Theory_Basics#The_Major_Scale|Earlier]] we began to talk about tonality, calling it the musical equivalent of gravity. We saw that certain melodies felt unresolved and that a few notes within the major scale relieved tension, with the root note providing the fullest resolution. <u>'''Tonality</u> ''' describes music that is centered around one particular note, called the <u>'''tonic note</u>'''. This cannot exist in a vacuum - it requires a melody or harmonic progression to ''establish'' the tonic note. Some scales or keys are better suited to doing so than others, while some do not establish a tonic note at all.
In the Major scale, the presence of the perfect 4th and 5th in combination with the leading tone (7th note a half step below the tonic) strongly establishes the tonality of the scale. Melodies that are derived from this scale find the strongest resolution and finality by moving from the leading tone to the tonic note. Scales that do not have a leading tone can still find resolution to the tonic in other ways; however, it is simply not as strong as the major scale's resolution.