Overview
A chord is a group of pitches heard together or understood as a harmonic unit. Chords support melody, create tension and release, establish style, and help music move through time.
This page belongs to the Music Theory and Composition area of the Malone Global University Music Department. Theory pages should connect written concepts to listening, performance, creativity, analysis, and musical communication.
On This Page
Theory and Composition Links
Use these links to move through related theory, composition, foundation, performance, and reference topics.
Triads
A triad is a three-note chord often built from stacked thirds. Major, minor, diminished, and augmented triads are basic chord types.
Seventh Chords
Seventh chords add another pitch above the triad, creating richer harmonic color and stronger movement.
Chord Symbols
Chord symbols are shorthand labels used in lead sheets, jazz, popular music, worship music, and many performance settings.
Study Questions
- What musical pattern or creative problem does this topic help explain?
- How can you hear this topic in an actual song, piece, performance, or recording?
- What vocabulary terms are most important for this topic?
- How does this topic connect to rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, form, notation, or instrumentation?
- How could a composer, songwriter, arranger, performer, or producer use this idea creatively?