Common Chords Used for the Autoharp |
Chord Name |
Open Strings |
Chord Name |
Open Strings |
Ab Maj |
G# |
C |
D# |
|
D Maj |
D |
F# |
A |
|
A Maj |
A |
C# |
E |
|
D7 |
D |
F# |
A |
C |
A7 |
A |
C# |
E |
G |
D min |
D |
F |
A |
|
A min |
A |
C |
E |
|
Eb Maj |
D# |
G |
A# |
|
Bb Maj |
A# |
D |
F |
|
E Maj |
E |
G# |
B |
|
Bb7 |
A# |
D |
F |
G# |
E7 |
E |
G# |
B |
D |
B Maj |
B |
D# |
F# |
|
E min |
E |
G |
B |
|
B7 |
B |
D# |
F# |
A |
F Maj |
F |
A |
C |
|
B min |
B |
D |
F# |
|
F7 |
F |
A |
C |
D# |
C Maj |
C |
E |
G |
|
F# min |
F# |
A |
C# |
|
C7 |
C |
E |
G |
A# |
F#7 |
F# |
A# |
C# |
E |
C min |
C |
D# |
G |
|
G Maj |
G |
B |
D |
|
C#min |
C# |
E |
G# |
|
G7 |
G |
B |
D |
F |
C, D#, F# or Adim7 |
C, D#, F#, A |
G min |
G |
A# |
D |
|
C#, E, G or A#dim7 |
C#, E, G, A# |
D, F, G# or Bdim7 |
D, F, G#, B |
The common Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do scale is often presented numerically, using roman numerals: I II III IV V VI VII.
Common major chords for the autoharp are made up of the I, III, V of the scale which begins with the root, or chord name. Thus the chord C is made up of C, E, G (I, III, V).
Minor chords are I, flatted III, and V. Seventh chords (more accurately called dominant sevenths) are made up of I, III, V and flatted VII.
In general, a chord should not start in the bass with the third. For instance, the Am chord will leave the first C (the third) dampened, starting the chord instead with the lowest E.
Some Nice Chord Variations (Sometimes Called Color Chords)
Chords shown work well with diatonic and chromatic autoharps
- M7 (Major Seven): With any major chord above, add the VII (Ti). Example- CM7= C E G B
- m7 (Minor Seven): With any minor chord above, add the flat VII (Ti). Example- Am7= A C E G
- M6 (Major Six): With any major chord above, at the VI (La). Example- C6= C E G A
NOTE: The C6 uses the same notes as the Am7. This relationship can be found with every major chord and it relative minor.
- sus4 (suspended fourth) With any major chord above, delete the III (Mi), and add the IV (Fa). Example- Csus4= C F G
- Add9 (Add nine): With any major chord above, add the first note above the root. This note is designated as a IX on the piano keyboard, but for the autoharp it may be thought of as a II (Re) as well, because they are the same note, and the octave in which it is played is not as important. Example- Cadd9 (Cadd2) C E G D
(C D E G).
Many other chord combinations are available. These are the most common used for Autoharp.
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