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Harmony

Diatonic Harmony

The short version

Only using the chords that live inside your key.

A little more

Build a triad on each note of the major scale and you get seven chords that all belong: major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, diminished.

Hear it
Why you'd careStay diatonic and everything fits automatically. Once you know the rule, breaking it becomes a deliberate choice.
Go deeper

Numbered with Roman numerals: I ii iii IV V vi vii°. Capitals are major, lowercase minor. Musicians talk in numerals so a progression can be moved into any key.

Learn next

88 words and counting in The Music Guide. Back to the guide