Harmonium Lessons - Chords: Part II: Major Chords

A chord is a combination of three (or more) notes played at the same time. All chords are formed by playing simultaneously three or more notes, according to definite rules.

PLEASE REVISE Harmonium Lesson 2: The Basics. Keep the keyboard diagram in view. Please remember, once again, that any key can become a Sa; but we have assumed the first white key to be the Sa (S), for convenience and convention, simplicity and uniformity.

CHORD: TYPES and SYMBOLS. Out of a very, VERY large number of chords, we need to do only very, VERY few of those. To avoid any confusion and conflict of symbols, I have entirely Indianised (Indianized?) the names of the types and symbols of the chords. Later on, in a separate article, only for your information, I will present you with the comparative names used in this Indian syatem and those used in the Western system.

Chord Type 1: Major Chords. Symbol V. A major chord is formed when we simultaneously play three notes S-G-P or an equivalent combination. Let me explain by assigning key numbers, calling Sa (S) as key number 1.

Note: S key number: 1

r .......... 2

R .......... 3

g .......... 4

G .......... 5

m .......... 6

M .......... 7

P .......... 8

d .......... 9

D .......... 10

n .......... 11

N .......... 12

S' .......... 13

r' .......... 14

R' .......... 15

g' .......... 16

G' .......... 17

m' .......... 18

M' .......... 19

P' .......... 20

So, to play the major chord S-G-P, you will play key numbers 1-5-8. This major chord is called S major. Using the symbol 'V' for a major chord, S major chord will be written as SV.

Similarly, the major chord "rV" will be formed of the following notes (to be played all at a time): r-m-d. How can we say that? Like this: Now, r is key number 2. So the new set of three keys [in the relative distance 1-5-8] will be 2-6-9. The keys 2-6-9 represent the notes r-m-d. Here is the complete list of the major chords we will use:

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S major chord, symbol SV, key# 1-5-8, notes S-G-P

r major chord, symbol rV, key# 2-6-9, notes r-m-d

R major chord, symbol RV, key# 3-7-10, notes R-M-D

g major chord, symbol gV, key# 4-8-11, notes g-P-n

G major chord, symbol GV, key# 5-9-12, notes G-d-N

m major chord, symbol mV, key# 6-10-13, notes m-D-S'

M major chord, symbol MV, key# 7-11-14, notes M-n-r'

P major chord, symbol PV, key# 8-12-15, notes P-N-R'

d major chord, symbol dV, key# 9-13-16, notes d-S'-g'

D major chord, symbol DV, key# 10-14-17, notes D-r'-G'

n major chord, symbol nV, key# 11-15-18, notes n-R'-m'

N major chord, symbol NV, key# 12-16-19, notes N-g'-M'

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Similar sets of notes will apply in all the three octaves. So much for the major Chords.

Please note:

WHATERVER KEY IS YOUR Sa, the major keys will retain their names (like, for example, R major chord), will retain their symbols (like, for example, RV), will retain their key# (like, for example, 3-7-10), will retain their notes combination (like, for example, R-M-D).

In the Part III of this series, we will take up the Minor Chords.