I know you rushed here because you want to play your first song.

That’s why you need to know what primary chords are first as a beginner.

Read this slowly and repeatedly…

Primary Chords are basically Major Chords on the 1st , 4th and 5th degree of the diatonic scale.

 

Do you remember the lesson on Number System & Scale Degrees? we literally used numbers to represent each member of the Major Scale.

This number system also applies to chords, which means :

In Key C the primary chords are 1,4 & 5 of the C Major Scale

C Major triad (CEG) = 1 chord or simply I

F Major triad (FAC) = 4 chord or simply IV

G Major triad (GBD) = 5 chord or simply V

 

In Key F the primary chords are 1,4 & 5 of the F Major Scale

F Major triad (FAC) = 1 chord or simply I

Bb Major triad (Bb D F) = 4 chord or simply IV

C Major triad (CEG) = 5 chord or simply V

 

In Key G the primary chords are 1,4 & 5 of the G Major Scale

G Major triad (GBD) = 1 chord or simply I

C Major triad (CEG) = 4 chord or simply IV

D Major triad (D F# A) = 5 chord or simply V

 

Now let’s see if you can spell out the Primary Chords for the Key of A Major.

 

When you are done, hop on to the next lesson.

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