Before we get to diatonic chords, let’s review the C Major scale and scale degrees.
First on the treble staff with scale degree numbers…
Now on the treble staff with scale degree names…
So as you can see…
1 is tonic or root note
2 is supertonic
3 is mediant
4 is subdominant
5 is dominant
6 is submediant
7 is leading tone
And then back to the tonic or root.
Now lets see what that would look like on the piano highlighted below first by note letter then by scale degree number…
Now that we have reviewed and established the names of the notes and scale degrees of the C Major scale, we can build simple triad chords off each note. Triad meaning 3 note chords. Let’s start with the note C and work our way up the scale. These are called diatonic chords and every major scale has them…
Every note off the C Major Scale can be built into 3 note triad chords.
CEG is a C Major Chord aka the I Chord
DFA is a D minor Chord aka the ii Chord
EGB is an E minor Chord aka the iii Chord
FAC is a F Major Chord aka the IV Chord
GBD is a G Major Chord aka the V Chord
ACE is an A minor Chord aka the vi Chord
BDF is a diminished triad aka the vii Chord (more diminished stuff later)
CEG is a C Major Chord aka the I Chord
Until next time your assignment is to find these diatonic triads in C Major on your piano keyboard. Once you’ve done that then do it for all 12 Major Scales…