Chord structure

So, the structure of chords is a topic that we will develop today. And, first of all, let’s turn to the definition of a chord, specify what it is. A chord is a consonance, a sound complex. In a chord, at least three sounds should be sounded at once or one after another, because harmonies in which only two sounds are called differently are intervals. And yet, the classic definition of a chord says that the sounds of a chord are either already arranged in thirds, or they can be arranged in thirds when rearranged.

This last point, just, is directly related to the structure of the chord. Since modern harmony has gone far ahead of the standards established by the music of classical composers, this last remark about the arrangement of sounds by chords in a chord is not applicable to some modern chords, since their structure is based on a different principle for constructing a chord. Continue reading →