What Are Chords?

A chord is three or more notes played together at the same time. (Two notes together form an interval; once you stack three or more, you have a chord.) Like colors mixing to create new colors, notes combine to create harmony.

The most common chord is the triad, built from three notes stacked in thirds:
• Root - The foundation the chord is named after
• Third - Sits a third above the root; determines major or minor
• Fifth - Sits a fifth above the root; adds stability

For example, a C major chord is the notes C - E - G played together: C is the root, E is the third, and G is the fifth.