---
title: "What are chords in music?"
categories:
  - name: "Wiki"
    url: "https://www.earmaster.com/wiki.md"
---

# What are chords in music?

# What are chords and chord inversions?

 
## General definition of a chord

 A chord is the layering of several tones played simultaneously - usually built on superposed thirds. Chords are defined by their root note and their quality (major, minor, 7, etc) - and eventually by their inversion.

 
### Triads

 A triad is a chord made of three notes. It consists of a root and the third and fifth above it. The most common triads are:

 **Major** - has a major third and a perfect fifth  
**Minor** - has a minor third and a perfect fifth  
**Diminished** - has a minor third and a diminished fifth  
**Augmented** - has a major third and an augmented fifth

 On the staff below, the C major, C minor, C diminished and C augmented are transcribed:

 ![triads](https://www.earmaster.com/images/misc/triads.gif)

 
### Seventh chords

 These chords are triads with a supplementary diatonic third superposed. The most common seventh chords are:

 **Dominant 7** (or just "7") - is a major triad with a minor 7 added.  
**Minor 7** - is a minor triad with a minor 7 added.  
**Diminished 7** - is a diminished triad with a diminished 7 added.  
**Half diminished** - is a diminished triad with a minor 7 added.

 There are more "triad + 7" combinations than mentioned here. You can find them in the chord definition table of EarMaster's *Activity Setup*. 

 
## Chord inversions

 The regular position of a chord with its root note at the bottom is called the root position.  
When the third of the chord (e.g. E in a C major triad) is at the bottom, it is said to be in first inversion. When the fifth of the chord (G in a C major triad) is at the bottom, it is said to be in second inversion.

 On the staff below, the C major chord is shown in root position, 1st inversion and 2nd inversion:

 ![inversions](https://www.earmaster.com/images/misc/inversions.gif)