Using The C Major Scale's Diatonic 7th Chords To Find Any Major Scale
Step Formula = W W H W W W H =(W = 2 frets, H = 1 fret)
C Major Degrees = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 = 1 Octave
C Major Scale = C____D____E__F____G____A____B__C
Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
Chords are formed by Stacking 3rds = picking every other letter of the scale
We do this over 2 octaves because we need the 9, 11, and 13 of the scale
for higher or larger chords. The highest chord we can get in the 1st Octave
is a 7th chord (ex. Cmaj7 = 1_3_5_7). To get Cmaj9 = 1_3_5_7_9 we go into
the 2nd Octave where the 9 is located. The 9 is the same note as the 2 but
it is an octave higher.
1st Octave degree number + 7 = 2nd Octave degree number
2 + 7 = 9 = D
4 + 7 = 11 = F
6 + 7 = 13 = A
<--------- 1st Octave ---------><--------- 2nd Octave --------->
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
C____D____E__F____G____A____B__C____D____E__F____G____A____B__C = 2 octaves
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
C____ ____E__ ____G____ ____B__ ____D____ __F____ ____A____ __C = Stacked 3rds
The Chordscale = Major Scale in Stacked 3rds
Since chords only go up to the 13th, we stop at 13.
ChordScale Degrees = 1 3 5 7 92 114 136
Notes Stacked 3rds = C________E______G________B______D______F________A
Degree as Roman Num. = I iii V vii ii IV vi
C Maj.Scale Triads = Maj min Maj dim min Maj min
4-note(7th Chords) = Maj7 m7 7 m7b5 m7 Maj7 m7
Diatonic 7th Chords of The C Major Scale
From the above we see there are only 4 types of 7th chords: maj7, m7, 7, and m7b5
TYPE Formula Occurs on Degree Roman Numeral Chord Name
Maj7 1_ 3_ 5_ 7 1 and 4 I and IV Cmaj7, Fmaj7
m7 1_b3_ 5_b7 2, 3, 6 ii, iii, vi Dm7, Em7, Am7
7 1_ 3 _5_b7 5 V G7
m7b5 1_b3_b5_b7 7 vii Bm7b5
These chords are often referred to as the scale's Family of Chords.
Arranged in order we get the following:
I = maj7 = Cmaj7 = 1_ 3_ 5_ 7 = C_E_G_B
ii = m7 = Dm7 = 1_b3_ 5_b7 = D_F_A_C
iii = m7 = Em7 = 1_b3_ 5_b7 = E_G_B_D
IV = maj7 = Fmaj7 = 1_ 3 _5_ 7 = F_A_C_E
V = 7 = G7 = 1_ 3 _5_b7 = G_B_D_F
vi = m7 = Am7 = 1_b3_ 5_b7 = A_C_E_G
vii = m7b5 = Bm7b5 = 1_b3_b5_b7 = B_D_F_A
Chordscale Sequences of The C Major Scale
If we begin the C Major chordscale on a different note
we'd get 7 chordscale sequences as follows:
I = C = C_E_G_B_D_F_A = C Major Scale, no sharps or flats
iii = E = E_G_B_D_F_A_C = m7 + --> gives E and Eb Major Scales
V = G = G_B_D_F_A_C_E = 7 + --> gives G, Gb, F#, F Major Scales
vii = B = B_D_F_A_C_E_G = m7b5 + --> gives B and Bb Major Scales
ii = D = D_F_A_C_E_G_B = m7 + --> gives D and Db Major Scales
IV = F = F_A_C_E_G_B_D = Exception --> Exception, found using G Sequence
vi = A = A_C_E_G_B_D_F = m7 + --> gives A and Ab Major Scales
