HOW TO WRITE CHORDS

Harmony – the combination of two or more simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce chords and chord
progressions having a pleasing effect.

Chords/Triads - three or more notes that combine harmoniously.

Chord progression - a series of chords played in a sequence.

Rhythm:
• Chord progressions use mostly whole and half notes

WHOLE NOTE 4 BEATS

HALF NOTE 2 BEATS
HALF REST 2 BEATS

There are 4 beats in every measure. Each box is a measure.

Good chords have notes that line up with the notes in the melody. If the chords have notes in them that
don’t match any notes in the melody, the music will sound strange. Rests are NOT assigned notes. Make
sure that you write harmony where the first chord and the last chord are the same; a I chord/triad, and that
a V chord/triad is in the middle.
TRIADS
G A B C D E F
E F G A B C D
C D E F G A B
I ii iii IV V vi vii

CHORD PROGRESSIONS

• I – IV- V I IV V

• I – vi – IV – V G C D
• ii – V – I
E A B

C F G

All chords/triad notes should sit on top of each other with no spaces
in between. They should all sit on lines on in spaces.
 HOW TO WRITE CHORDS

I G IV C V D
E A B
C F G

https://www.onlinepianist.com/virtual-piano
We are only using these notes on the piano keyboard

Play you harmony chords on the online piano to make

sure it follows the chord progression rules