What chords and notes go together?

When composing, improvising, or simply playing music, knowing which notes fit well with chords is essential. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced musician, understanding the relationship between chords and notes will help you create beautiful harmonies and melodies. In this tutorial, we'll explore how to match chords with the right notes, scales, and even create tension and resolution effectively.

1. Understanding Chords and Their Notes

A chord is a group of notes played together, typically built from a root note, a third, and a fifth. The simplest way to match a note to a chord is by playing one of the chord tones (notes that make up the chord).

Common Chords and Their Notes

Chord → Notes (Chord Tones)

C Major → C - E - G

A Minor → A - C - E

G7 (Dominant 7th) → G - B - D - F

D Minor → D - F - A

B Diminished → B - D - F

C Augmented → C - E - G#

If you're playing a melody over a chord, using these chord tones will ensure your melody sounds harmonious and blends well.

2. Matching Chords with Scales

To expand beyond just chord tones, you can use scales that correspond to each chord. This is useful when playing a solo, improvising, or composing.

Chord → Best Matching Scale

C Major (C-E-G) → C Major Scale (C D E F G A B)

A Minor (A-C-E) → A Natural Minor (A B C D E F G)

G7 (G-B-D-F) → G Mixolydian (G A B C D E F)

D Minor (D-F-A) → D Dorian (D E F G A B C)

B Diminished (B-D-F) → B Locrian (B C D E F G A)

C Augmented (C-E-G#) → C Whole-Tone Scale (C D E F# G# A#)

By using these scales, you can add more expressive and flowing melodies to your chord progressions.

Following screenshot from the Music Theory Companion app shows how combining the scale note and different harmonies forms the diatonic chords for the Harmonic Minor scale.

3. Using Tension and Resolution in Music

To make music sound dynamic and interesting, you can create tension and then resolve it.

How to Add Tension:

Play non-chord tones (notes not in the chord) to add dissonance.

Use suspended chords (e.g., Csus4: C-F-G) before resolving back to a regular major or minor chord.

Add dominant 7th chords (e.g., G7: G-B-D-F) before resolving to the tonic (C major).

How to Resolve Tension:

Move dissonant notes back to chord tones.

Follow a dominant-to-tonic progression (e.g., G7 → C major).

Use a diminished chord (e.g., B°: B-D-F) before resolving up a half step to a stable chord.

4. Expanding Chords with Extensions & Colors

Beyond basic triads, you can use extensions and colorful tones to enhance your harmony.

Chord Type → Example Chord → Additional Notes for Color

Major 7th → Cmaj7 (C-E-G-B) → Add D or A for a richer sound

Minor 7th → Am7 (A-C-E-G) → Add B or F for jazzier progressions

Dominant 9th → G9 (G-B-D-F-A) → Great for blues & jazz

Using these extended chords makes your music sound more sophisticated and harmonically rich.

5. Practical Tips for Matching Notes with Chords

✅ Use chord tones (root, third, fifth) for safe harmony.

✅ Use scale tones from the key for melody and improvisation.

✅ Use passing notes for smooth transitions between chord tones.

✅ Use tension notes carefully to create movement and drama.

✅ Try extensions & colors to add depth to your chords.

6. Conclusion 🎵

Matching chords with the right notes and scales is an essential skill for any musician. Whether you're playing chords, improvising a melody, or composing a song, understanding harmony will help you create music that sounds great and feels natural.

Now it's your turn! Try experimenting with different scales, tensions, and resolutions in your music. Let us know what works best for you in the comments below! 😊🎶 You can use the Music Theory Companion app for applying these types of concepts on other scales you want to use in your compositions.

Do most musicians know music theory?

As a lead guitarist in our band Crazy Waves and a mobile app developer specializing in music-related tools, I have observed that while many musicians have a basic understanding of music theory, a significant number do not fully grasp its deeper concepts. The extent of music theory knowledge among musicians varies widely, depending on their background, training, and musical goals.

Some musicians, especially those with formal training, have a strong command of music theory, as it is an integral part of structured education in conservatories and music schools. They study notation, harmony, chord progressions, scales, key signatures, and composition techniques, enabling them to analyze and create music with precision. Classical musicians, for instance, often rely heavily on music theory, as their performances are guided by written scores.

On the other hand, many self-taught musicians and performers who play by ear may have little to no formal training in music theory. They develop their skills through practice, intuition, and experience rather than theoretical knowledge. While this approach can be highly effective for performance, it sometimes limits their ability to communicate ideas with other musicians, compose complex pieces, or understand advanced harmonic structures.

In contemporary music, especially in genres like rock, pop, jazz, and electronic music, some musicians prioritize creativity and improvisation over theoretical understanding. However, even in these genres, a good grasp of music theory can be incredibly beneficial. Knowledge of scales, chords, and progressions allows musicians to expand their creativity, compose more effectively, and collaborate more efficiently.

For those looking to enhance their music theory knowledge, tools like the Music Theory Companion Android app can be highly useful. This app provides various interactive features to help musicians, students, and composers explore music theory concepts in a practical and engaging way. It includes essential tools such as a Chord Library, Circle of Fifths, Scales and Diatonic Chords, and Modulation Calculators to assist users in understanding and applying music theory in real-world scenarios. The Composer Tool helps in building Chord Progressions, and the Metronome ensures rhythm accuracy, making it a comprehensive resource for learning and practice.

Ultimately, while not all musicians have extensive knowledge of music theory, those who take the time to learn it gain a deeper appreciation of music and greater control over their creativity. Whether a beginner or an advanced musician, leveraging resources like Music Theory Companion can make the learning process easier and more effective.