Scale Degrees (Chord building)

The scale degrees are very useful for many things, but the one that I find most helpful is how
scale degrees disignate quality of intervals. this is what I mean:
Major: I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-vii°

• the I chord, IV and V chord for any major scale is Major because it is in uppercase roman numerals

• the ii chord, iii and vi chords are minor for any major scale and the vii° is diminished (degree symbol (°) designates this)

so if you were in the key of C (where most start) you would have:

1. C Major (I chord)
2. D minor (ii chord)
3. E minor (iii chord)
4. F Major (IV chord)
5. G Major (V chord)
6. A minor (vi chord)
7. B diminished (vii° chord)

the same applies to any Major key

All Major chords have a Root Major 3rd and a Perfect fifth.
So C Major would be C-E-G

All minor chords have a Root, minor 3rd and a perfect fifth
So C minor would be C-Eb-G


All diminished(°) chords have a Root, minor 3rd and a diminished fifth
So C diminished would be C-Eb-Gb

All augmented(+) chords have a Root, Major 3rd and a Augmented fifth
So C Augmented would be C-E-G#


you can then easily glance at music and see the notes C-Eb-G in the key of C and
know that it's a minor key.

In any Major key if there are accidentals (#'s,b's or natural symbols) that the
chords quality is the same as the scale degree, eg. in the key of D Major:
(D Major has 2 sharps: F# and C#)

1. D Major (I chord)
2. E minor (ii chord)
3. F# minor (iii chord)
4. G Major (IV chord)
5. A Major (V chord)
6. B minor (vi chord)
7. C# diminished (vii° chord)

Read this over as it will make most everything in music theory a lot simpler.