Intervals & Chords

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A scale can be described as a pattern of tones and semitones, as letters, or — the most useful way of all — as numbers. The numbers say where each note sits from Home, whatever the letters are.

Tones & semitones	TTSTTTS
C major scale	C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
Numbiano number	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	1
Interval from the 1	Unison	Major 2nd	Major 3rd	Perfect 4th	Perfect 5th	Major 6th	Major 7th	Octave
Semitones	0	2	4	5	7	9	11	12
Degree	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	1st
Name	Tonic	Super-tonic	Mediant	Sub-dominant	Dominant	Sub-mediant	Leading note	Tonic

Tonic home: the note the music settles on. Supertonic super is Latin for above: a tone above the tonic. Mediant in the middle between tonic and dominant. Subdominant as far below the tonic as the dominant is above it. Dominant the most stable note after the tonic. Submediant halfway between subdominant and tonic. Leading note a semitone below the tonic; it pulls home.

Same numbers, twelve homes

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	1
C major	C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
G major	G	A	B	C	D	E	F#	G
D major	D	E	F#	G	A	B	C#	D
A major	A	B	C#	D	E	F#	G#	A
E major	E	F#	G#	A	B	C#	D#	E
B major	B	C#	D#	E	F#	G#	A#	B
Gb major	Gb	Ab	Bb	Cb	Db	Eb	F	Gb
Db major	Db	Eb	F	Gb	Ab	Bb	C	Db
Ab major	Ab	Bb	C	Db	Eb	F	G	Ab
Eb major	Eb	F	G	Ab	Bb	C	D	Eb
Bb major	Bb	C	D	Eb	F	G	A	Bb
F major	F	G	A	Bb	C	D	E	F

Triads: leapfrog every other note

Start on any number and jump over the next two: from the 1 you jump over 2 and 4 to get 1, 3 & 5. Seven three-note chords, one from each degree.

Triad built from the 1st degree	1, 3, 5	I	Major
Triad built from the 2nd degree	2, 4, 6	iim	minor
Triad built from the 3rd degree	3, 5, 7	iiim	minor
Triad built from the 4th degree	4, 6, 1	IV	Major
Triad built from the 5th degree	5, 7, 2	V	Major
Triad built from the 6th degree	6, 1, 3	vim	minor
Triad built from the 7th degree	7, 2, 4	vii°	diminished

Capital numeral, major. Small numeral with an m, minor. ° is diminished.

Intervals & Chords · Year 7 Term 1numbiano.com/tools/scale-builder/

Year 7 Term 1 · Chords

Chords in your hands

Learning objective

To work out the chords of a major scale from its numbers, and to perform the I V vim IV progression in more than one Tonal Centre.

National Curriculum, KS3 Music

identify and use the inter-related dimensions of music, including tonality and different types of scales
play and perform confidently … with accuracy and expression

How a chord is built

Write the scale’s letters under 1 to 7. Then leapfrog: a number, the number two above it, and two above that. Past 7, carry on from 1. So I is 1 3 5 and vim is 6 1 3. Write the letters inside each chord, then play it.

Playing it · Chord Progressions

Tonal Centre, major. Tap I, V, vim, IV.
Play. Each chord with the band, one bar each, round and round.
Check the letters: Chord dictionary - On. Tap a chord to hear it.

1 Tonal Centre C

Worked outPlayed with the bandSteady, four times round

1 3 5

5 7 2

vim

6 1 3

4 6 1

2 Tonal Centre G

Worked outPlayed with the bandSteady, four times round

1 3 5

5 7 2

vim

6 1 3

4 6 1

Nothing about the numbers has changed. Only the letters under them.

3 Extension · Tonal Centre your choice

Worked outPlayed with the bandSteady, four times round

1 3 5

5 7 2

vim

6 1 3

4 6 1

Keyboards: try F or D. Guitars: D — D, A, Bm and G. Which chord was new to your hands?

Chords in your hands · Year 7 Term 1numbiano.com/tools/progression/