This is a demonstration of music theory chords in keys

a music theory app for Android and iOS devices.

This app is for all musicians

who would like to improve their understanding of the relationship

between chords and scales.

Open up the app and click 'choose scale'.

Choose the scale and type of chords that you would like to work on;

major scale triads in this case.

The screen shows you a key,

in this case D, and a degree, in this case two.

what you have to do is identify the court that is built

off the second degree of the D major scale. Work out what the name of this chord is,

then click 'show chord' to check whether you got it right. In this case the answer is E minor.

You can also click 'play chord' and hear what the chord progression sounds like.

What you'll hear is the tonic, in this case D major,

followed by the chord in question, in this case E minor,

followed by the tonic again.

Now you know what chord two sounds like,

in the context of a major key.

Click 'show notes' to show the notes that make up the chord E minor.

In this case E, G and B.

You can also click 'show scale' to show the notes that make up the D major scale.

Click 'next question' for a new question.

In this question the key is A major and the degree is seven.

So you have to work out what is chord number seven

in the key of A major.

This time let's take a different approach.

click 'show scale' to show the notes that make up the A major scale.

You can then use this information to identify

what the notes would be that make up chord number seven.

Click 'show notes' to show the actual notes in chord number seven.

G sharp, B and D in this case, and from there work out the correct answer

G sharp diminished.

Again click 'play chord' to hear the tonic, A major, followed by chord seven,

G sharp diminished, followed by A major again.

Click 'options' to change number sharps and flat

or to change from Roman to Arabic numerals for the degree of the scale.

You can test yourself as quickly or slowly as you would like,

with or without showing the notes in the scale or the chords.

Let's back out.

This time we'll choose the major scale and seventh chords.

This time we're asked to identify the chord built on the second degree of the F major scale.

But this time the diatonic seventh.

The answer is G minor seven.

Again if you need help you can reveal the notes of the chord,

or the notes in the scale.

Play chord again to hear the tonic, the chord in question and the tonic again.

As before you can take the alternative approach

by showing the notes in the scale, then the notes in the chord, and then finally the answer.

Back out again.

Choose scale. This time let's choose harmonic minor sevenths.

This time we have to identify

the chord built off the fifth note in the A harmonic minor scale.

Again you can show the scale for a little help,

show the notes that would make up the chord,

and then finally identify the chord.

Click 'play chord' to hear the chord in action.

if you need help at any point in any of these tests

click 'help with the scale' to open up a series of help pages which will explain

the construction of the scale

and which chord is built off which degree of the scale.

Back out.

Choose scale, in this case we'll try melodic minor sevenths.

Here you have to identify chord number three

in the F sharp melodic minor scale.

The answer in this case is A major seven sharp five.

Again if you're uncertain,

use 'help with the scale' and learn about how the scale and chords are constructed.

Play chord again to hear the chord in action.

The key to success with music theory is repeated testing.

This app tests you thoroughly

and trains you to identify all the triads and sevenths

within each of the most common scales.

With practice the task of thinking your way around keys becomes quicker and easier.

In time you'll also learn to recognise the sounds of each of these chords,

in the context of their parent scales.

These are extremely useful skills for musicians of all tuned instruments.

Music theory - chords in keys. Music theory app available for Android and iOS.

Search for 'Music theory - chords in keys' by Stuart Bahn.

And make your move towards music theory mastery.