Learning the chord structure can feel abstract at first. Notes stack on top of each other, intervals matter, and suddenly you are told you need to “hear” thirds. For beginners, this is a lot. A simple image helps: think of chords as little snowmen.
This idea works for any basic triad. A snowman has three spheres. A triad has three notes. Each sphere sits cleanly on top of the other. Each note does the same.
The Bottom Sphere Chord Structure: The Lower Third
Start with the lowest note. This note is the foundation. From it, you count up a third. This interval shapes the “feel” of the chord.
- A major third gives a bright base.
- A minor third gives a darker base.
This is the bottom ball of your snowman.
The Middle Sphere: The Middle Third
Place the next note a third above the first. This creates the chord’s internal structure. It is where the color begins to shift.
The distance from the middle note to the top note will also be a third, but the quality changes the chord type.
Think of this as the middle ball, sitting securely above the first.
The Top Sphere: The Upper Third
Finally, add the top note. It sits a third above the middle note. This note completes the triad.
- If you have a major third at the bottom and a minor third at the top, you get a major chord.
- If the lower third is minor and the upper third is major, you get a minor chord.
- If both thirds are minor, you create a diminished chord.
- If both are major, you build an augmented chord.
This is the head of your snowman.
Why the Snowman Helps with Chord Structure
The image simplifies the stack:
- Three notes = three spheres.
- Each sphere rests on another = each note is spaced by a third.
- The size and mood of your snowman change depending on whether the thirds are major or minor.
Students understand instantly that chords are not random piles of notes but neat stacks. Each layer matters. Each third shapes the final sound.
Try It Yourself
Pick a note and build a chord structure with a snowman on top of it.
Use your keyboard, sing the intervals, or write them on staff paper.
Once you master the lower, middle, and upper thirds, you can build any triad with confidence.
German Version:
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What Is a Chord in Music? The Building Blocks of Harmony
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