  
3
Chord
names and chord symbols
All chords are named by their roots. They can be labeled
in several ways:
- By letter name of the root
- By scale-degree name of the root
- By Roman numeral of the root
Letter
name
A chord built on A (A-C-E) is
called an A chord; from B (B-D-F), a B chord; and so on. This was
demonstrated at the beginning of this lesson.
Scale-degree
name
Each scale step and its corresponding chord
have a name that indicates their relationship to the tonic, the
name of the main tone of a key. These names were first introduced
in Lesson 3.
Scale-degree
and chord name: |
1 |
tonic |
the
central pitch that the other pitches "gravitate" toward |
2 |
supertonic |
the
note above ("super")
tonic; often moves down one step to tonic in melodies |
3 |
mediant |
the note midway between tonic and
the dominant above |
4 |
subdominant |
the
note below ("sub") the
dominant; often moves up to the dominant |
5 |
dominant |
after tonic, the most important pitch
of a key; often moves directly to tonic |
6 |
submediant |
the note midway between tonic and
the subdominant below |
7 |
leading
tone
or
subtonic |
the
note 1/2 step below tonic; often "leads" directly
to tonic
the note below tonic (whole step below tonic)
|
|
Roman
numeral
Roman numerals are used to represent each chord constructed
above the pitches of a scale. These Roman numerals are very efficient
for precisely labeling chords. They show how a particular chord
functions within a tonality (by relating to scale-degree numbers)
as well as the quality of the chord (uppercase vs. lowercase).
- Uppercase numerals
are used for major
chords (e.g., I).

- Lowercase numerals
are used for minor
chords (e.g., vi).
- Lowercase numerals
with a small superscript "o"
are used for diminished
chords (e.g., viiš
).
- Uppercase numerals
with a small superscript plus sign "+"
are used for augmented
chords (e.g., III+)
|
|
Following are the chord symbols and chord names for
the major scale and all three forms of the minor scale.
Major
scale
|
Scale
degree |
Chord
symbol |
Chord
name |
 |
1 |
|
tonic |
2 |
|
supertonic |
3 |
|
mediant |
4 |
|
subdominant |
5 |
|
dominant |
6 |
|
submediant |
7 |
|
leading tone |
|
Major scale
triads:

Natural
minor scale
|
Scale
degree
|
Chord
symbol
|
Chord
name
|
 |
1
|
|
tonic |
2
|
|
supertonic |
3
|
|
mediant |
4
|
|
subdominant |
5
|
|
"minor"
dominant |
6
|
|
submediant |
7
|
|
subtonic |
|
Natural
minor scale triads:

Harmonic
minor scale
|
Scale
degree
|
Chord
symbol
|
Chord
name
|
 |
1
|
|
tonic |
2
|
|
supertonic |
3
|
|
mediant |
4
|
|
subdominant |
5
|
|
dominant |
6
|
|
submediant |
7
|
|
leading tone |
|
Harmonic
minor scale triads:

Melodic
minor scale (ascending)
|
Scale
degree
|
Chord
symbol
|
Chord
name
|
 |
1
|
|
tonic |
2
|
|
supertonic |
3
|
|
mediant |
4
|
|
subdominant |
5
|
|
dominant |
6
|
|
submediant |
7
|
|
leading tone |
|
Melodic
minor scale triads:

In the minor mode, the chords
found in the harmonic form of the scale are the ones most commonly
used in harmony (thus, "harmonic minor" scale). Following
are the most significant changes between the natural minor chords
and harmonic minor chords:


Notice how the following triad
can be labeled in the key of F major and d minor. In example A,
the chord is simply labeled by its root (D) and quality (minor).
In B, the chord is labeled by its name within the key (submediant
in the key of F major and tonic within the key of d minor). And
finally in C, the chord is labeled by a Roman numeral. Notice how
the Roman numeral symbols reflect both the scale-degree name AND
the quality of the triad.
Three
methods to label chords:

As can be seen, a d minor triad
functions differently within the key of F major and d minor.
Question:
In what major and minor keys do you find a d minor
triad? List them by key and Roman numeral. I've begun the list
for you. Notice I use uppercase letters for major keys and lowercase
for minor. (Hint: A d minor triad will always be minor and
labeled with a lowercase Roman numeral.)
F: vi
d: i

Question:
In which keys do you find an A major triad? List them by
key and Roman numeral.

  
|