Lesson 2

The first note in any major scale is called the tonic note. It is the tone ( tonic) on which the scale is formed. The tonic note in the C major scale is a C note. The tonic note in the C chord is a C note. The tonic chord in the key of C is a C chord.

Notes, chords and keys will all share a letter name. For our purposes' we will think of the term tonic to mean " first" or "home".

To construct a C scale start with the tonic note (C) and count up to the octave. Once you know the major scale you can construct a chord using the first (do - C), the third (mi - E), and the fifth (sol - G) notes in the scale. This is known as a major triad. C major = C - E - G

Listen   "C triad"

Once you know how to play chords, you can accompany yourself as you sing. You will soon learn that certain chords work well together. These chords can be thought of as a "family".

This "family" of chords, which we will number 1 through 7, will make up the chords in a key.

You may need to change to a different key to suit your singing voice. This is called transposing.