A standard Major triad chord will always have a Major 3rd as the interval between its first 2 notes. This creates an interval called a Major 3rd between the first 2 notes of the chord. Using this system, we can count the 4 half steps between the 1st note of the chord and the 2nd note of the chord which are C and E: The distance between that same black key (C#) and the D key is also a half step. So, the distance between the C key and the black key directly to the right (C#) is a half step. Half steps are counted by moving between 2 notes directly next to each other. The distance between the E note and the G note is 3 half steps. The distance between the C note and the E note is 4 half steps. Major chords are made when the distance between note 1 and note 2 of the chord is a Major 3rd (4 half steps,) and when the distance between note 2 and note 3 of the chord is a minor 3rd (3 half steps.) Let’s take a look at this C Major chord on the keyboard below:Īs you can see, the C, E, and G notes make up the C Major chord. The distance from one note to another note is called an interval. What’s even more important is the distance between the notes in the chord.
The notes we use to make up a Major chord are important. Major triad chords are made up of 3 notes stacked on top of each other.