Scale Tone Chords
In any key it is possible to build chords on each degree of the scale. This means that for every major scale there are seven possible chords which can be used for creating guitar parts and harmonising melodies.
These seven chords are called scale tone chords. It is common practice to describe all the chords within a key with roman numerals, as shown in the following example, which demonstrates the seven scale tone triads in the key of C major.
Once you know the notes for any of these chords, you can use any fingering you know to play them. This may involve re-arranging the order of the notes or doubling some of the notes, but as long as the chord shape you are playing contains only the three note names involved in that particular chord, you are still playing the right chord.
The following example demonstrates a common progression in the key of C. By analyzing the progression in terms of chord numbers, it is easy to transpose to other keys or move to other inversions. This progression would be described as I III IV V III VI II V. These chord shapes are used in the following example.
C chord
C
Dm chord
Dm
Em chord
Em
F chord
F
G chord
G
Am chord
Am
