12 focused lessons
Chords and harmony
Learn chord construction, inversions, seventh chords, and Roman numerals. Practice common chord progressions and follow the notes between chords.
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Lesson 01Major Triads: Build Root, Third, and Fifth
Learn how to build major triads from a root, major third, and perfect fifth. Spell C major, check its intervals, and practice hearing the chord.
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Lesson 02Minor Triads: Lower the Third, Keep the Fifth
Learn how to build minor triads from a root, minor third, and perfect fifth. Compare C minor with C major by lowering one note.
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Lesson 03Diminished and Augmented Triads: Change the Fifth
Compare diminished and augmented triad formulas. Build C diminished and C augmented, check their thirds and fifths, and hear the altered chord tones.
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Lesson 04Chord Inversions: Identify the Bass Without Losing the Root
Learn root position, first inversion, and second inversion. Read C/E and C/G, identify the bass note, and distinguish chord inversion from voicing.
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Lesson 05Seventh Chords: Major 7, Dominant 7, and Minor 7
Compare major seventh, dominant seventh, and minor seventh chords. Spell Cmaj7, C7, and Cm7, then hear which chord tones change.
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Lesson 06Diatonic Chords in a Major Key: Build the Seven Triads
Learn the seven diatonic chords in a major key. Build triads from C and G major, check their qualities, and connect them to Roman numerals.
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Lesson 07Roman Numeral Chords: Read Harmony Relative to a Key
Learn Roman numeral chord notation in major keys. Identify roots by scale degree, read major and minor symbols, and transpose a progression.
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Lesson 08The I–IV–V Progression: Learn Three Core Major-Key Chords
Learn the I–IV–V chord progression with C, F, and G. Identify each root, keep a steady pulse, and move the same pattern into another major key.
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Lesson 09The ii–V–I Progression: A First Jazz Harmony Exercise
Learn the ii–V–I progression with Dm7–G7–Cmaj7. Spell each chord, follow thirds and sevenths, and try a simple major-key jazz harmony exercise.
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Lesson 10Chord Symbols: Read Roots, Quality, Extensions, and Bass Notes
Learn how to read chord symbols such as Cm, C7, Cmaj7, Csus4, and C/E. Decode the root, quality, added notes, and slash bass one part at a time.
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Lesson 11Voice Leading: Connect Chords with Small, Clear Movements
Learn voice leading by connecting C major to F major. Keep a common tone, follow each moving note, and compare chord voicing with inversion.
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Lesson 12Cadences: Hear Phrase Endings and Harmonic Arrival
Learn common cadence types with examples in C major. Compare authentic, plagal, half, and deceptive endings in the context of a musical phrase.
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