Music Composition DUMmIES

There are two types of major chords:

Diatonic chordsare built from the seven notes of a major key signature.

The letter name of a diatonic chord (such as A Major, A minor, or Aaug-

mented) comes from the major scale the chord is built on.

Chromatic chordsare built from notes outsidethe major key signature,

such as chords built on minor scales. Chords found within minor keys

are a little trickier, because nine notes potentially can fit under a single

minor key signature, when you take the melodic and harmonic minor

scales into consideration.

Because the natural, melodic, and harmonic scales are taught as separate

scales for musicians to practice, there a misconception that you have to stick

to oneof these types of minor scales when composing music. But really, you

can draw from all three types of minor scales within the same piece of music.

Chords and Their Moods ............................................................................

You can let your melodic ideas suggest different chords, as we have seen in

previous chapters. This can be a very good way to open up possibilities — by

suggesting departures from your key center and adding color to your work.

But you could just as easily start with a chord progression and build a

melody up from there. Thousands of compositions began with a sense of har-

monic movement first, followed by melody.

Here is an opportunity for your Muse to step in. Or maybe you could just

plunk your hands down on your piano and listen for the possibilities. To

excel at chordal composition you should have a strong knowledge of chords.

You should, at very least, have a working familiarity with following chord

qualities in every key:

Major and minor

Major and minor seventh

Dominant seventh

Major and minor sixth

Suspended fourth

Ninth

Diminished

Augmented

102 Part III: Harmony and Structure