1 Diatonic Chords in Major and Minor Scales

This chapter contains information about chords (built in 3rds) in following scales: Major, Natural Minor, Harmonic Minor, and Melodic Minor.

Table 1.1: Major Scale (W W H W W W H)
Scale Formula Nums 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Chord Roman Nums I ii iii IV V vi vii°
Functional Names Tonic Supertonic Mediant Subdominant Dominant Submediant Leading Tone
Triads maj min min maj maj min dim
7th Chords maj7 m7 m7 maj7 dom7 min7 m7b5
Example in C Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bm7b5
Table 1.1: Natural Minor Scale (W H W W H W W)
Scale Formula Nums 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Chord Roman Nums i ii° III iv v VI VII
Functional Names Tonic Supertonic Mediant Subdominant Dominant Submediant Subtonic
Triads min dim maj min min maj maj
7th Chords m7 m7b5 maj7 m7 m7 maj7 dom7
Example in A Am7 Bm7 Cmaj7 Dmin7 Emin7 Fmaj7 G7
Table 1.1: Harmonic Minor Scale (W H W W H 3 H)
Scale Formula Nums 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7
Chord Roman Nums i ii° III+ iv V VI vii°
Functional Names Tonic Supertonic Mediant Subdominant Dominant Submediant Leading Tone
Triads min dim aug min maj maj dim
7th Chords mMaj7 m7b5 maj7#5 m7 dom7 maj7 dim7
Example in A AmMaj7 Bm7b5 Cmaj7#5 Dmin7 E7 Fmaj7 G#dim7
Table 1.1: Melodic Minor Scale (W H W W W W H)
Scale Formula Nums 1 2 b3 4 5 6 7
Chord Roman Nums i ii III+ IV V vi° vii°
Functional Names Tonic Supertonic Mediant Subdominant Dominant Submediant Leading Tone
Triads min min aug maj maj dim dim
7th Chords mMaj7 min7 maj7#5 dom7 dom7 m7b5 m7b5
Example in A AmMaj7 Bmin7 Cmaj7#5 D7 E7 F#m7b5 G#m7b5