Part 6: Let chords guide your first solo · Lesson 047 / 117
Build a chord using only scale notes
Take alternate notes from C major and inspect the result.
Diatonic means using the notes of the scale or key being discussed. To build a diatonic triad, choose a scale note, skip the next, take the next, skip one more, and take the next.
From C major, starting at C gives C–E–G. Starting at D gives D–F–A. Measure the second result: D to F is a minor third and D to A a perfect fifth, so it is D minor.
This explains why a major key can contain minor chords. “C major” describes the key's tonic and scale structure; it does not instruct every chord root to use a major triad.
Today, build only these two examples. Naming all seven chords before understanding the construction would hide the useful discovery. Keep the scale written down and verify each ingredient.
Hear it
C Dm
Audio fileFour-beat count-in · 60 BPM · Warm sampled electric guitar. Listen once before playing along.
A concrete example
C D E F G A B C D E F: choose alternate notes from C to get C–E–G; from D to get D–F–A.
Try it, slowly
- Write C major over more than one octave.
- Circle C–E–G using alternate scale notes.
- Repeat from D, then measure D–F and D–A.
Check one idea
Why is the chord on D minor rather than major in C major?
Show the explanation
The available third is F, three semitones above D. D major would need F#, which is not in the C-major collection.
A good place to stop
You can derive C and Dm from the same scale and explain their different thirds.
Return to the example after a short break. A clear explanation matters more than speed.