[Harmonics] Course 6 Diatonic Chord

Diatonic Chord 

A diatonic chord refers to a chord created by stacking notes of a certain scale on that scale. Today let’s look into diatonic chords that are created on the major scales. 

Diatonic chords on the C major scales 

When we create chords by stacking notes in thirds using notes of the C major scale only, it will be described as follows: 

When we create triads by seven notes based on the same method, it will be described as follows: 

When we create seventh chords, it will be described as follows: 

So please print out the following score or use a staff notation to describe chord names and their Roman numerals by creating them on 12 scales based on the circle of fifths. 

Download staff notation 

Blank score

Diatonic chords on the C major scales 

Diatonic chords on the F major scales 

Diatonic chords on the Bb major scales 

Diatonic chords on the Eb major scales 

Diatonic chords on the Ab major scales 

Diatonic chords on the Db major scales 

Diatonic chords on the Gb major scales 

Diatonic chords on the B major scales 

Diatonic chords on the E major scales 

Diatonic chords on the A major scales 

Diatonic chords on the D major scales 

Diatonic chords on the G major scales 

Advantages of analyzing in Roman numerals 

We have described diatonic chords in Roman numerals with a starting note I of the scale so far. If we become familiar with those diatonic chords in Roman numerals, we can learn the chord progressions regardless of the keys in a systematic manner. 

For example, when we learn the diatonic chord of the G major scale in Roman numerals, we can learn that Bm7 is the third minor seventh chord in the diatonic chords of the G major scale. 

One may think that the following shows various chord progressions but we can see that they are the same chord progressions from iim7 to V7 of each key. 

When we know the popular chord progressions in their Roman numerals, we can easily deal with them in various keys. So please keep it in mind.