Unit 5 of 7 · Weeks 8–10
Scales, Chords & Harmony
Connect major scales to triads, chord progressions, and melodies that fit their harmony.
This unit builds towardComposition 5: Melody & Harmony
12 lessons
Work through them in order, or jump to the one you need.
1Whole and half stepsCount the distance between piano keys.Open lesson →2Keys, Key Signatures & Home ToneA key signature establishes the pitch collection a piece primarily uses, while tonic functions as its home tone. Choosing a key affects the notes and harmonic possibilities available to the composer.Open lesson →3The Major ScaleA key gives music a collection of pitches and a home base. Scale degrees help us describe each note by its job inside the key.Open lesson →4Scales and key signaturesHear major and minor patterns, then build scales in different keys.Open lesson →5Building TriadsA basic triad stacks three notes using alternating scale tones.Open lesson →6Primary Chords & MelodyThe I, IV, and V chords are especially useful in tonal music, and every melody note can be tested against the chord sounding beneath it.Open lesson →7Building chordsUse 4–3 and 3–4 half-step patterns to make triads.Open lesson →8Chords: Part 2Root position, first inversion, and second inversion.Open lesson →9Tension & ResolutionHarmony creates motion by moving away from and back toward tonic. The V chord often creates strong tension that wants to resolve to I.Open lesson →10Chord Tones & ArpeggiosA triad can sound simultaneously as a chord or unfold one pitch at a time as an arpeggio. Arpeggios turn harmony into melodic motion while keeping the chord identity clear.Open lesson →11Melody Over ChordsA melody does not need to use only chord tones, but important notes often connect clearly with the harmony underneath.Open lesson →12Composition 5: Melody & HarmonyCompose a melody over a simple chord progression and make the harmony audible in your melodic choices.Open lesson →