Part 6: Let chords guide your first solo · Lesson 048 / 117
Meet the C-major chord family
Extend the same construction to the other scale notes.
Use the same alternate-note method from every C-major degree. The resulting triads are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim.
Inspect their notes: C–E–G; D–F–A; E–G–B; F–A–C; G–B–D; A–C–E; B–D–F. Their qualities come from the distances inside each triad, not from a separate arbitrary pattern to memorise.
Work through only two unfamiliar chords in detail today, such as Em and F. The full family is a reference. Bdim is included because the scale naturally produces its minor third and diminished fifth; you do not need to master a difficult diminished grip to understand that fact.
A real song may also use chords from outside this family. We are establishing the clear diatonic baseline first so that later colours, including blues, can be explained rather than treated as contradictions.
Hear it
C Family
Audio fileFour-beat count-in · 60 BPM · Warm sampled electric guitar. Listen once before playing along.
A concrete example
Em = E–G–B: minor third plus perfect fifth. F = F–A–C: major third plus perfect fifth. Both use only C-major notes.
Try it, slowly
- Build Em from alternate notes and check its intervals.
- Build F in the same way.
- Pick any earlier chord and confirm that all its notes belong to C major.
Check one idea
Does “diatonic to C major” mean “only use a C chord”?
Show the explanation
No. Several chords can be built from the C-major collection. C is the tonic chord, not the only available chord.
A good place to stop
You can derive two family members rather than simply recite their names.
Return to the example after a short break. A clear explanation matters more than speed.