Chords & Harmony

An authentic cadence is a harmonic progression that creates a sense of finality by moving from the dominant chord to the tonic. It appears in two main forms—perfect and imperfect—depending on voice leading and chord inversion.

A power chord is a two‑note harmony, typically the root and perfect fifth, often doubled at the octave. It is a staple of electric guitar playing in rock, metal and related styles, especially when combined with distortion.

A secondary dominant is a chord that temporarily tonicizes a scale degree other than the tonic by treating it as if it were the dominant. It enriches harmonic motion by creating brief tonal pulls toward non‑tonic chords.

A minor chord is a three‑note harmony built from a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth. It provides a darker, more melancholic sound than its major counterpart and is fundamental to Western tonal music.

A borrowed chord is a chord taken from the parallel key (major or minor) and used in a different tonal context, providing colour and tension in harmonic progressions.

A chord progression is a sequence of chords played in succession, forming the harmonic backbone of a piece of music. It establishes tonal center, creates tension and release, and guides melodic development.

A suspended chord replaces the third of a triad with a second or fourth, creating an open, unresolved sound. It is common in pop, rock, and jazz and often resolves back to a major or minor chord.

An augmented chord is a triad built from a root, a major third, and an augmented (raised) fifth, producing a distinctive, tense sound used in many musical styles.

A diminished chord is a triad built from two minor thirds stacked together, producing a tense, unresolved sound. It appears frequently in Western harmony as a passing or leading‑tone chord and is essential for creating chromatic movement.