Why it works

The chords are known as scale tone chords. This means they use only notes used in a particular scale. As such they will sound as though they belong together because all the notes played will be in the same scale.

For Example

If you take the C major scale. (C D E F G A B). Then make triad chords (3 note chords) from the notes you get C E G / D F A/ E G B / F A C / G B D / A C E / B D F .

This makes 7 chords.

In order of the chords this makes:

• 1-Major
• 2-minor
• 3-minor
• 4-Major
• 5-Major
• 6-minor
• 7-Diminished.

You can use these numbers to identify common chord progressions and to find if your key is major or minor. If your song starts and ends in chord 1 the song will usually be Major. If it starts and ends in chord 6 the song will usually be in the relative minor key.

For example. If your key is set to "C" in the key section then any song you make will either be C major or A minor. If your chords start and end on A minor. The song will most likely be in the key of A minor and C major if it starts and ends with C major.

To see your scale tone chords displayed as numbers press and hold the "Show Chord Numbers" button in the chords section.