To recognize and use major and minor chords in your music, it’s important to understand what they are and how they work.

Major Chords

• What They Are: A major chord has three parts: the root note, a major third, and a perfect fifth. For example, in C major:
  • Root: C
  • Major Third: E (4 steps up from C)
  • Perfect Fifth: G (7 steps up from C)
• Sound: Major chords sound bright and happy.

Minor Chords

• What They Are: A minor chord also has three parts: the root note, a minor third, and a perfect fifth. For example, in C minor:
  • Root: C
  • Minor Third: E♭ (3 steps up from C)
  • Perfect Fifth: G (7 steps up from C)
• Sound: Minor chords sound darker and more sad.

How to Use Them

• Common Chord Patterns: Get to know some popular chord patterns. For example, the I-IV-V pattern includes C, F, and G in C major. Another one is ii-V-I, which has Dm, G, and C.
• Fun Fact: Studies show that about 60% of popular songs use mainly major chords, while around 40% use minor chords.

By learning about these chord types and how they sound, you can improve your music playing and writing skills. This will help you in your Year 1 Music class!