The C Major Chord
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Transcript:
The C Chord
Three or more notes played together as a group is called a “chord” and a three note chord is called a “triad.”
The C chords shown here are in “root” position, meaning the note c is in the lowest note of the triad. Root position triads are easy to see because they are placed on the staff in a space-space-space or line-line-line configuration.
Root position triads are usually played with the fingering position shown here with the right hand 1 3 5 and the left hand 5 3 1. The C chord is built on the first note of the C scale so it’s called the “One” (I) chord in the key of C.
Chords built on the notes of the major scale are numbered with Roman numerals as you’ll see on page 22. The note that the chord is named for, C, is called the “root,” the middle note is the 3rd note of the scale starting on the root and it’s called the “third.” The top note of the triad, in this case g, is the 5th note of the scale starting on the root and it’s called the “fifth.”
The individual notes of the chords are identified with Greek numerals 1, 3 & 5.