Major chord
| Component intervals from root | |
|---|---|
| perfect fifth | |
| major third | |
| root | |
| Tuning | |
| 4:5:6 | |
|
Forte no. / |
|
| 3-11 / |
In music theory, a major chord (
Play ) is a chord that has a root note, a major third above this root, and a perfect fifth above this root note. When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a major triad. In Western classical music from 1600 to 1820 and in Western pop, folk and rock music, a major chord is usually played as a triad.
The major triad (or major chord), along with the minor triad (or minor chord), is one of the basic building blocks of tonal music, the Western common practice period and Western pop, folk and rock music. It is considered consonant, stable, or not requiring resolution. In Western music, a minor chord, in comparison, "sounds darker than a major chord".
Major triads with additional notes, such as major seventh chord, are also called major chords. Major seventh chords are used in jazz and occasionally in rock music. In jazz, major chords may also have other chord tones added, such as the ninth and the thirteenth scale degrees.
A major triad can also be described as a major third interval with a minor third interval on top, or as a root note, a note four semitones (half steps) higher than the root, and a note seven semitones higher than the root.
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