If you’ve read through the previous blog posts, you might have observed how chords in a particular key follow a similar pattern and progression to the notes in that scale. What this also means is that we have a certain number of characteristics which are transferable from one major scale to another. Let’s take the G Major Scale and C Major Scale to illustrate this.

Comparison of G Major and C Major Scale

Notes in the G Major Scale: G A B C D E F# G

Chords in the Key of G: G Major A Minor B Minor C Major D Major E Minor F# Dim G Major

Notes in the C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C

Chords in the Key of C: C Major D Minor E Minor F Major G Major A Minor B Dim C Major

Comparing the two scales, we observe the following common progression: 1st Chord (Major), 2nd Chord (Minor), 3rd Chord (Minor), 4th Chord (Major), 5th Chord (Major), 6th Chord (Minor), 7th Chord (Diminished).

Chord Numbering System

You can use this logic/numbering system as a formula when you want to arrive at chords from the notes in a major scale. You’ll find it quite useful in various scenarios; for example, if you can’t sing a song in the original key, you can try to lower it and use this formula to figure out which chords to play.

This simple sequence/numbering system for chords can be represented using roman numerals – large roman numerals for major chords and small roman numerals for minor chords. The last/diminished chord is represented by smaller case roman numerals along with a tiny circle/accent in superscript. We take the example of chords in the key of C to show this representation.

Let’s now apply this to the A Major scale.

Notes in the scale: A (5th fret, 6th string)    |    B (7th fret, 6th string)    |    C# (4th fret, 5th string)    |    D (5th fret, 5th string)    |    E (7th fret, 5th string)    |    F# (4th fret, 4th string)    |    G# (6th fret, 4th string)    |    A (7th fret, 4th string)

Chords in the same key: A Major    B Minor    C# Minor    D Major    E Major    F# Minor    G# Dim    A Major

Chord numbering systems are very useful to help you easily arrive at all the chords in a major scale, and thus get familiar with a lot more scales, a lot more quickly. Build more familiarity with the system by incorporating it in your practice. In the next blog post, we’ll explore an interesting technique called muting in rhythm guitar, which can be used to play some cool songs. Keep reading to discover how to go about it.