Chord Basics

Here’s our first chord:

A C chord contains the notes C, E, and G.

Notice how it's constructed of one third on top of another.

C to E is a 3rd, and E to G is a 3rd.

If you forget everything else you know, remember this—a chord is a stack of thirds.

Now, the bottom note in this stack is particularly important. We call it the root of the chord, because the chord grows upwards from there.

C is the root of the C chord.