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HarmonyA–Z index
Harmony

Major Chord

The short version

The bright, open-sounding chord.

A little more

Root, a major third above it, then a fifth: C-E-G. That major third is what makes it sound positive.

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Chord flavours from the same root

Only the inner notes move.

C majorbright
C minordark
C diminishedanxious
C augmenteddreamlike
Cmaj7dreamy, warm
Cm7smooth, soulful
C7bluesy, restless
Why you'd careMajor chords are the default resting place of most pop and folk music.
Where you'll see this in BDT
Ear Room — Hear the Music →
Learn next
Minor ChordThe darker, sadder-sounding chord.ThirdThe middle note of a chord — the one that decides major or minor.TriadA three-note chord: root, third, fifth.

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