Who this is for
Learners who can build triads and spell the major scale. Already comfortable with Roman numerals? Test out on Day 7.
Best done after: Triads & Inversions, Steps & the Major Scale. It is advice, not a rule: every lesson has short "rusty on…?" boxes for anything you skipped.
Why learn this
Chords in a song are not random. They come from the key, and once you know which chords belong, you can predict what comes next, play along by ear, write your own and transpose anything.
Roman numerals are the shorthand that makes this possible: I, IV and V mean the same thing in every key. This program teaches the system step by step, from the three main chords out to minor keys and finding the key of a song.
What you will be able to do
- How to build the seven chords of a major key
- What the Roman numerals mean, and the major-minor-minor pattern
- The three primary chords: I, IV and V
- The chords of a minor key
- Tonic, subdominant and dominant: what chords do
- How to find the key of a song from its chords
The 7-day plan
- Harmonising the scale. Build the seven chords of a major key.
- The big three: I, IV, V. Find the I, IV and V chords of any key quickly.
- ii, iii, vi and vii°. Know all seven chords of a major key.
- Chords in minor keys. Build the chords of a minor key.
- What chords do. Group chords into tonic, subdominant and dominant, and use them to find a key.
- Finding the key of a song. Name the key from a handful of chords.
- Test day. Prove you can read and build chords in any key.
How each session works
Every day follows the shape of a workout. It starts with a warm-up that reviews earlier days, then technique: a short, plain explanation with a small interactive tool to try it on. Then come the working sets, drills with instant feedback, and a finisher, a short test with a pass mark so you only build on things you can do. A cool-down recaps the day and previews the next.
Choose your split
The daily split is a session a day: done in a week. The easy split is a session every other day, with rest days between: two weeks, and a gentler pace. On your own pace there is no schedule. Nothing is ever locked, and you can change split at any time.
What comes next
Chord Progressions: The 6-Day Program or Seventh Chords: The 7-Day Program. See the whole training plan.
Frequently asked questions
What are the chords in the key of C major?
C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and B°. In Roman numerals: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°.
Why are there only three major chords in a major key?
Stacking thirds on each note of the major scale gives three major chords (I, IV, V), three minor chords (ii, iii, vi) and one diminished chord (vii°). The pattern is the same in every key.
Do I need to be able to read music?
No. Chords are written by name and numeral.
What is the difference between this and the circle of fifths program?
The circle program teaches keys, signatures and where chords sit on the circle. This one teaches how to build and read the chords of a key. They complement each other, in either order.