Piano Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard Syllabus

Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard in Piano, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Triads on the Keyboard

   4 topics

   • Major & Minor Triads
   • Diminished & Augmented Triads
   • Triad Inversions
   • Diatonic Triads of a Key
2. 2

   Seventh Chords

   4 topics

   • Dominant Seventh
   • Major & Minor Seventh
   • Diminished & Half-Diminished
   • Seventh Chord Inversions
3. 3

   Chord Progressions

   4 topics

   • I-IV-V-I Progression
   • ii-V-I Progression
   • 12-Bar Blues
   • Pop & Common Progressions
4. 4

   Lead Sheets & Chord Symbols

   3 topics

   • Reading Chord Symbols
   • Slash Chords & Extensions
   • Playing from a Fake Book
5. 5

   Accompaniment Patterns

   4 topics

   • Block Chords
   • Alberti Bass
   • Arpeggiated Accompaniment
   • Broken Chord & Waltz Patterns
6. 6

   Harmonizing a Melody

   3 topics

   • Choosing Chords for a Tune
   • Bass Line Construction
   • Adding Color & Voicings

Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard flashcards for Piano

25 of 50 cards from the Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the interval formula for a major triad, and how is C major spelled?

   A major triad stacks a major third then a minor third above the root ($4 + 3$ semitones): root–3rd–5th. C major = C–E–G.

2. What is the interval formula for a minor triad, and how is C minor spelled?

   A minor triad stacks a minor third then a major third above the root ($3 + 4$ semitones): root–♭3rd–5th. C minor = C–E♭–G.

3. How do you convert any major triad into a minor triad at the keyboard?

   Lower the third of the chord by one half step (semitone); the root and fifth stay the same (e.g., C–E–G becomes C–E♭–G).

4. What is the interval structure of a diminished triad, and what is an example?

   Two stacked minor thirds ($3 + 3$ semitones): root, ♭3, ♭5. Example: B diminished = B–D–F.

5. What is the interval structure of an augmented triad, and what is an example?

   Two stacked major thirds ($4 + 4$ semitones): root, 3, ♯5. Example: C augmented = C–E–G♯.

6. Compare the fifths of the four triad qualities (major, minor, diminished, augmented).

   Major and minor triads both have a perfect fifth ($7$ semitones); the diminished triad has a diminished fifth ($6$ semitones); the augmented triad has an augmented fifth ($8$ semitones).

7. What is a first-inversion triad, and how is first-inversion C major spelled?

   A triad with its 3rd as the lowest note. First-inversion C major = E–G–C, written as the slash chord C/E; its figured-bass label is $\frac{6}{3}$ (or just 6).

8. What is a second-inversion triad, and how is second-inversion C major spelled?

   A triad with its 5th as the lowest note. Second-inversion C major = G–C–E, written C/G; its figured-bass label is $\frac{6}{4}$.

9. How many distinct positions can a triad be played in, and what are they called?

   Three: root position (root in the bass), first inversion (3rd in the bass), and second inversion (5th in the bass).

10. What are the qualities of the seven diatonic triads in any major key?

    I major, ii minor, iii minor, IV major, V major, vi minor, vii° diminished. In C major: C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, B°.

11. On which scale degree of a major key does the only diminished triad occur, and what is it called?

    The 7th degree (leading tone), labeled vii°. In C major it is B–D–F.

12. What are the qualities of the diatonic triads in a natural minor key?

    i minor, ii° diminished, III major, iv minor, v minor, VI major, VII major. In A minor: Am, B°, C, Dm, Em, F, G.

13. What are the functional names of scale degrees 1, 4, and 5, on which the primary triads are built?

    Degree 1 = tonic (I), degree 4 = subdominant (IV), degree 5 = dominant (V). These three major triads are the primary chords of a major key.

14. What is the formula for a dominant seventh chord, and how is C7 spelled?

    A major triad plus a minor seventh: 1–3–5–♭7. C7 = C–E–G–B♭.

15. On which scale degree is the dominant seventh chord built, and what is V7 in the key of C major?

    On the 5th scale degree (dominant). In C major, V7 is G7 = G–B–D–F.

16. How do the tendency tones of V7 resolve to I (e.g., G7 to C)?

    The 3rd of V7 (the leading tone, B) resolves up a half step to the tonic (C), and the 7th of the chord (F) resolves down a step to the 3rd of I (E); together they resolve the chord's tritone.

17. What is the formula for a major seventh chord, and how is Cmaj7 spelled?

    A major triad plus a major seventh: 1–3–5–7. Cmaj7 = C–E–G–B.

18. What is the formula for a minor seventh chord, and how is Cm7 spelled?

    A minor triad plus a minor seventh: 1–♭3–5–♭7. Cm7 = C–E♭–G–B♭.

19. What single note distinguishes C7 from Cmaj7?

    The seventh: C7 contains the minor (flatted) seventh B♭, while Cmaj7 contains the major seventh B. Both share the major triad C–E–G.

20. What is the formula for a fully diminished seventh chord, and how is B°7 spelled?

    A diminished triad plus a diminished seventh — all minor thirds: 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7. B°7 = B–D–F–A♭.

21. What is the formula for a half-diminished seventh chord, and how is Bø7 spelled?

    A diminished triad plus a minor seventh: 1–♭3–♭5–♭7, also written m7♭5. Bø7 (Bm7♭5) = B–D–F–A.

22. What is the difference between a fully diminished seventh (°7) and a half-diminished seventh (ø7)?

    They share the same diminished triad (1–♭3–♭5) but differ in the seventh: °7 has a diminished seventh, ø7 has a minor seventh — the top note of ø7 is a half step higher.

23. How many inversions does a seventh chord have, and which chord tone is in the bass for each?

    Three inversions (four positions total): root position (root in bass), first inversion (3rd in bass), second inversion (5th in bass), third inversion (7th in bass).

24. What are the figured-bass symbols for a seventh chord in root position and each inversion?

    Root position: 7; first inversion: $\frac{6}{5}$; second inversion: $\frac{4}{3}$; third inversion: $\frac{4}{2}$ (or 2).

25. How is third-inversion G7 spelled and written as a slash chord, and how does its bass typically resolve?

    G7/F, with the seventh F in the bass (F–G–B–D). The bass F resolves down by step to E, giving a first-inversion C chord (C/E).

See more Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard flashcards →

Planning Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard for Piano

Chords & Harmony at the Keyboard (Piano) FAQ