A major chord is a triad with a major third and a perfect fifth above the root. The major chord above C is spelled C–E–G.
Structure The primary intervals in a major chord are the major third between the first and second notes, the perfect fifth between the first and third notes, and the minor third between the second and third notes. It is a tertian chord, because it is built in thirds.Helmholtz, Hermann von. On the Sensations of Tone as a Physiological Basis for the Theory of Music. London: Longmans Green, 1912. 458. When the root of the chord is not in the bass, the chord is considered inverted."Inversion", Edited by Don Randel. Belknap Press of The New Harvard Dictionary of Music, 1986. 403f. In integer notation, a major triad is {0,4,7}.Gualdo, Fernando. "Tonal, Atonal and Microtonal Pitch-Class Categories". In Mathematics and Computation in Music. Germany, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2010. 432.
On lead sheets, a major chord is indicated by the letter of its root (and any relevant accidental).Benward, Bruce, and Saker, Marilyn. Music in Theory and Practice, Volume 1. McGraw-Hill Education, 2008. 85.
The major chord timbre is sometimes described as brighter than its minor counterpart.
Just intonation
In just intonation, a major chord is tuned to the frequency ratio 4:5:6. The just major scale contains major triads at I, IV, and V. In equal temperament, the fifth is two cents narrower than the just perfect fifth, and the major third is 14 cents narrower than the just major third.Sethares, William A. Tuning, Timbre, Spectrum, Scale. Springer London, 2005. 60.
See also Major and minor Musical tuning Minor chord Otonality and utonality
References
External links
Major triads explained on a virtual piano Major chords explained on a virtual piano