Build a major or minor chord
A basic chord is three notes sounding together: a root, a third and a fifth. Start with one hand and an unhurried pulse.
Start on C
For C major, play C–E–G. For C minor, play C–E♭–G. The root and fifth stay the same; the third moves down one semitone. “Major is happy, minor is sad” is an incomplete shortcut—listen to the whole phrase and the words.
From the root, count up four semitones to the third and seven to the fifth. D major = D–F♯–A.
Count up three semitones to the third and seven to the fifth. D minor = D–F–A.
One semitone is one adjacent keyboard key, black or white. Start counting the next key as 1; the root itself is 0. The symbols C and Cm mean C major and C minor.
Keep your hand comfortable
You can reorder the notes without changing the basic chord. C–E–G, E–G–C and G–C–E are inversions of C major. Try C–E–G, then C–F–A for F major: keep C and move the other fingers a short distance. Begin with a single bass root in the left hand; leave fast patterns until the changes are steady.
Practise with intention
- Say the chord name and its three note names.
- Play the notes separately, then together.
- Switch major to minor on the same root. Listen for the third changing.
- Play four slow counts, release together and repeat without rushing.
Further reading: Triads and Inverted triads — Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom.
Build a chord
C major: C · E · G
The root, third and fifth are highlighted across two octaves (C4–B5). Switch major to minor and watch the third move. Synthesized teaching tones; playback starts only when you press Listen.