Chords, Cadences and Progressions Flashcards
What is a chord?
A chord is a group of notes sounding together or in very close proximity. Chords make a harmony, the sounds created when different notes are heard simultaneously.
What is the most common chord and its structure?
The most common chord is a triad with 3 notes of two intervals with a third between each. The root is the lowest note, then the third and the fifth. Above the bass note, notes can appear in a variety of patterns such as block chords, arpeggios, broken chords and generally figurations.
What are major, minor and diminished chords?
Triads can be constructed on any notes of a scale. Triads are major if the lower interval is a major 3rd. They are minor if the lower interval is a minor 3rd. They are diminished if the interval between the root and 5th is a diminished 5th.
How are chords named with roman numerals?
Chords are named after the degree of the scale the root is. Upper case for major chords and lower case for minor in roman numerals. This is followed by a ‘b’ for a second inversion or ‘c’ for third inversion. They key must also be stated.
How are chords named with chord symbols?
Written above the stave, chord symbols show the root of the chord. Minor and diminished are represented by an m or dim. If the bass is not the root, a slash followed by the actual bass note. Called a slash note.
What is a 7th chord?
A 7th chord is a 4 chord note created by adding a 3rd interval to a triad. There are still minor 7ths with a minor 3rd. The diminished 7th has a diminished 7th between the root and 7th note. They are labelled with a superscript 7.
What is the process of identifying chords?
Rewrite notes so they are close together on the stave by moving notes to the same octave and removing duplicates. If the lowest note is the same as the bass note of the chord it is in root position. If this is note the case, it is a slash chord.
What is a cadence?
A cadence is a pair of chords acting as punctuation. Imperfect cadences move from any chord to its dominant like a comma. Perfect cadences move from the dominant to the tonic like a full stop. Plagal cadences move from the subdominant to the tonic like an ‘Amen’. Interrupted cadences move from a dominant to anything other that the tonic.
What are chord progressions?
Chord progressions are a a series of chord played in order. A cadence and its approach chord are short chord progressions. Common chord progressions are falling fifths, falling thirds, and 12 bar blues.
