A chord is 2 or more intervals sounded together. Like intervals, they can be played both melodically and harmonically. There are 6 types of chords that Aquallegro covers: The major chord is built by piling 2 intervals on top of each other - first a major third, then a minor third. The octave is sometimes added as well. The minor chord is built similarly, but has a minor third on the bottom and a major third on the top. The diminished chord is built by piling 2 minor thirds on top of each other. The augmented chord is built by piling 2 major thirds on top of each other. As with major and minor chords, the octave is also sometimes added. The major 7th chord is a major chord with the major 7th added. The major/minor 7th chord is a major chord with the minor 7th added. Chords can be played in different inversions. An inversion is the order of the pitches in a chord. If one starts on the first note, or "root" of the chord, one is in 'root position'. Starting on the 2nd note is '1st inversion', starting on the 3rd note is '2nd inversion', and so on. Inversions do not change the pitches in the chord, merely the octave they are in. |
It's very difficult to describe chords, so the best way to learn them is trial and error, however - The major chord is pleasing and "happy". The minor chord is rather "scary" and almost evil sounding. The augmented and diminished chords will sound very tension-filled, and will both "want" to resolve - the diminished chord upwards, and the augmented chord downwards. The best way to learn major 7th and minor/major 7th chords is to learn the major 7th and minor 7th intervals and recognize them that way. |