Modern & Classical Chord Symbols – Absolute & Relative

Good morning. This is Duane. Today I’d like to talk about absolute and relative chord symbols, absolute chord symbols and relative chord symbols, and talk about the difference between the two and how they work. Last time we took up the subject of scale degrees and what they’re named. We said that in any given scale … That’s a C major scale, by the way. If I build a chord on the first degree of the scale that’s called a tonic chord. If I build chord on the second degree of the chord that’s called a supertonic. Mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, and leading tone. That’s true in whatever key you want to play it. All you have to do is identify a major scale. Let’s take B flat for example. The formula for a major scale is whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. That’s the B flat scale. It’s got two flats in it: B flat and E flat. This time I would like to talk about Modern & Classical Chord Symbols In Musical Notation.

If I build a chord on the first degree of the scale that’s called a tonic chord. If I build a chord on the second degree of the scale that’s called a supertonic chord. Now why am I playing E flat instead of E? Because of the scale of B flat. I only have to use scale notes. That’s a tonic chord, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading tone and tonic. We said that far and way the most used chords in any given key are the one chord, the four chord, and the five chord. Of course they can be used in any inversion. In other words I don’t have to play it in root position if I don’t want to. If I move from the one chord to the four chord I can do it like that, can I? That’s one four one because I’m just playing the four chord upside down.

The three most used chords are one, four and five in any given key. The secondary chords are important, too. The two is minor. The supertonic chord is minor. The mediant, the three is minor. The sixth is minor. The seventh is very little used; it’s diminished but it’s a possibility.

We have the structural names for the scale degrees, don’t we? Now in popular music, in jazz and so on, you’ve seen a lead sheet, a line of melody with a chord symbol above it, haven’t you? For example, if you’re going to play “All The Things You Are” you probably see a F minor seventh chord first as the melody goes … The first chord would be F minor seventh. Second chord, a B flat minor seventh. Third chord would be E flat seventh, A flat, D flat major seventh, G 7th, C. Of course you could flesh it out. You can flesh it out all you want with broken chords and inversions and so on. That’s called absolute chord symbols, where it says F minor 7th you got to play F minor 7th. Then you got to play B flat minor seventh. You got to play E flat and so on.

That was in the key of A flat but if you want to play it in another key you’ve got to figure out what the chords are, don’t you? Because it’s written in absolute. Say you want to play it in the key of C, you would have to start on A minor and so on like that. You have to figure out those chords in advance what you’re going to do.

In classical music back in the days of the great masters they had a relative chord symbol, which is really vastly better than what we use now because it’s a transferable concept. In other words, what you learn in the one key you just transfer to another key. If a chord starts on the six chord and then goes to the two chord, and then it goes to the five chord, and then it goes to the one chord, then in the new key guess what? Six, two, five, one. It’s transferable from key to key. That’s the point.

Now, let’s talk about Roman numerals and Arabic numerals. It’s called figure bass; that’s what it is. The one chord is called the Roman numeral I chord. The two chord is known as Roman numeral ii but it’s a small Roman numeral because it’s minor. That’s a iii, small Roman numerals, minor. That’s a IV; it’s a four chord because it’s major. The five chord, Roman numeral V because it’s major. Six, small Roman numerals because it’s minor. Seventh, small Roman numerals with a little degree sign by it to show it’s diminished.

That’s clear. The Roman numerals identify what the root is. If that’s a one chord and that’s a four chord and a five chord, we know what the root of the chord is. If you want to turn it upside down and play an inversion, there has to be a way to identify that. Instead of using a Roman numeral, say add Arabic numerals. The first inversion of any chord is called a 6/3 chord. The reason it’s called 6/3 is because the top note is six notes above the bottom note. It’s an interval of a six down to there. Then the middle note to the bottom note is a three. That’s a root position, just would be a Roman numeral. That would be a I 6/3.

Now sometimes they leave off the three just because it’s redundant, but it’s a I6 chord at least. That’s called a I 6/4 chord. It’s still the Roman numeral I but it’s the second inversion, isn’t it? Again, it’s six notes above the bottom note, four notes above the bottom. That’s a root position, just a Roman numeral, a I6, a I 6/4. The same thing would be true of any other chord. That’s a ii chord, just small Roman numeral two. That’s a ii, Roman numeral ii with an Arabic 6 by it. That’s a Roman numeral ii with a Arabic 6 4 by it. When I say Arabic I mean our normal numbers that we use. Not Roman numerals in other words.

I think that’s enough for today. It gives you a little introduction to two kinds of chord symbols, absolute and relative chord symbols. If you enjoy this kind of thing, come on over to playpiano.com and sign up for our free series of free videos and newsletters and so on. Glad you did. Thanks for being with me. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye bye for now.

***For lots more good stuff on piano playing come on over to my website at https://www.playpiano.com and sign up for our free piano tips – “Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions!”

Here’s a great little book on chords and chord progressions on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Chords-Chord-Progressions-Exciting-ebook/dp/B0076OUGDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404158669&sr=1-1&keywords=piano+chords+duane+shinn

You’ll learn piano chords galore and how to apply them when you play piano – major chords, minor chords, augmented chords, diminished chords, 6th chords, 7th chords, 9th chords, 11th chords, 13th chords, suspensions, alterations and more. Chords are the “missing link” in most piano lessons and you can learn them all easily. Learn piano playing and music theory at the same time – it will make your progress faster and you will understand music like you never have before.

Here is the video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZrs3i2acyg

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