#2b - How play chords in any major key easily
#3 - How to play chords in any major key easily
So, you’ve now learnt how to make every major and minor chord using semitones, major = 4+3, minor 3+4, and how to play all the minor chords in Am, Em, Bm and possibly other keys.

Now we are going to learn how to play all the chords in major any key / scale.

Let’s start with the key of C major. 


Step 1

Notes:

C D E F G A B

Number each note:

1 C
2 D
3 E
4 F
5 G
6 A
7 B


Step 2

Make a simple 3 note chord on each note of the scale again:


1 CEG = C major

2 DFA = D minor

3 EGB = E minor

4 FAC = F major

5 GBD = G major

6 ACE = A minor

7 BDF = B diminished


Step 3

As you can see, the order is different to the minor. This is how I remember it:


major, minor, minor

major, major

minor, diminished


Again maybe you can come up with a great way of remembering this.

This order is always the same for any major key, let’s try a key with more sharps, D Major.


1 DF#A = D major
2 EGB = E minor   
3 F#AC# F# minor
4 GBD = G major
5 AC#E = A major
6 BDF# = B minor
7 C#EG = C# diminished


As you can see it's the same order of major and minor chords with the diminished one as chord 7 now.

Now you can play all the chords in any major key. Start with the first 3 sharp major keys, C, G, and D.


Step 4

Experiment with playing a set of 3 numbers again, find a combination you like, e.g. 1 5 6 and play. 

Keep playing and listening to its effect, and the feel of jumping from 1 to 5, 5 to 6, and 6 back to 1, and the feel of the whole progression. 

Then you can start adding melodies using the notes already in the chords as you did when experimenting with the minor.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email us or ask on our Facebook Page.

So, you’ve now learnt how to make every major and minor chord using semitones, major = 4+3, minor 3+4, and how to play all the minor chords in Am, Em, Bm and possibly other keys.

Now we are going to learn how to play all the chords in major any key / scale.

Let’s start with the key of C major. 


Step 1

Notes:

C D E F G A B

Number each note:


1 C
2 D
3 E
4 F
5 G
6 A
7 B


Step 2

Make a simple 3 note chord on each note of the scale again:


1 CEG =  C major

2 DFA =  D minor

3 EGB =  E minor

4 FAC =   F major

5 GBD =  G major

6 ACE =   A minor

7 BDF =   B diminished


Step 3

As you can see, the order is different to the minor. This is how I remember it:


major, minor, minor

major, major

minor, diminished


Again maybe you can come up with a great way of remembering this.

This order is always the same for any major key, let's try a key with more sharps, D Major.


1 DF#A =  D major
2 EGB =    E minor   
3 F#AC#   F# minor
4 GBD =   G major
5 AC#E =  A major
6 BDF# =  B minor
7 C#EG =  C# diminished


As you can see it's the same order of major and minor chords with the diminished one as chord 7 now.

Now you can play all the chords in any major key. Start with the first 3 sharp major keys, C, G, and D.


Step 4

Experiment with playing a set of 3 numbers again, find a combination you like, e.g. 1 5 6 and play. 

Keep playing and listening to its effect, and the feel of jumping from 1 to 5, 5 to 6, and 6 back to 1, and the feel of the whole progression. 

Then you can start adding melodies using the notes already in the chords as you did when experimenting with the minor.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to email us or ask on our Facebook Page.

Pete Mills


Pete Mills helps musicians create instantly and easily using techniques he has developed over thirty years. The old ways of having to have lessons for years or watch hundreds of youtube tutorials are over. Pete teaches how to play and produce easily, helping solo artists to be free and create the best music they possibly can.
FB Comments Will Be Here (placeholder)
©2022 SCALE Collective LTD 11872275
123 Lower Cheltenham Place, Bristol, UK, BS6 5LB