Harmonizing Major scales into chords

Every scale has matching chords. In improvisation, scales are played “over”

chords. In this context, chords are the harmony while scales can be the melody, a

solo, a phrase or a lick.

Here, we take a look upon which triads, four-note and five-note chords the Major Scale can

be harmonized into. In other words, which chords that can be built from the scale. Chords

related to a scale in this manner are called diatonic chords.

Triads
C Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes C D E F G A B

Chords C Dm Em F G Am Bdim

Notes in chord C-E-G D-F-A E-G-B F-A-C G-B-D A-C-E B-D-F

C# / Db Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes C# D# E# F# G# A# B#

Chords C# D#m E#m F# G# A#m B#dim

Notes in C#-E#- D#-F#- E#-G#- F#-A#- G#-B#- A#-C#- B#-D#-

chord G# A# B# C# D# E# F#

D Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

 Notes D E F# G A B C#

Chords D Em F#m G A Bm C#dim

Notes in chord D-F#-A E-G-B F#-A-C# G-B-D A-C#-E B-D-F# C#-E-G

D# / Eb Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes D# F G G# A# C D

Chords D# Fm Gm G# A# Cm Ddim

Notes in chord D#-G-A# F-G#-C G-A#-D G#-C-D# A#-D-F C-D#-G D-F-G#

E Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes E F# G# A B C# D#

Chords E F#m G#m A B C#m D#dim

Notes in chord E-G#-B F#-A-C# G#-B-D# A-C#-E B-D#-F# C#-E-G# D#-F#-A

F Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes F G A Bb C D E

Chords F Gm Am Bb C Dm Edim

Notes in chord F-A-C G-Bb-D A-C-E Bb-D-F C-E-G D-F-A E-G-Bb

 F# / Gb Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes F# G# A# B C# D# E#

Chords F# G#m A#m B C# D#m E#dim

Notes in F#-A#- G#-B- A#-C#- B-D#- C#-E#- D#-F#- E#-G#-

chord C# D# E# F# G# A# B

G Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes G A B C D E F

Chords G Am Bm C D Em Fdim

Notes in chord G-B-D A-C-E B-D-F# C-E-G D-F#-A E-G-B F-A-C

G# / Ab Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes G# A# B# C# D# E# F#

Chords G# A#m B#m C# D# E#m F#dim

Notes in G#-B#- A#-C#- B#-D#- C#-E#- D#-G- E#-G#- F#-A#-

chord D# E# G G# A# B# C#

A Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

 Notes A B C# D E F# G#

Chords A Bm C#m D E F#m G#dim

Notes in chord A-C#-E B-D-F# C#-E-G# D-F#-A E-G#-B F#-A-C# G#-B-D

A# / Bb Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes A# C D D# F G A

Chords A# Cm Dm D# F Gm Adim

Notes in chord A#-D-F C-D#-G D-F-A D#-G-A# F-A-C G-A#-D A-C-D#

B Major Scale Triads

Degrees I ii iii IV V vi vii°

Notes B C# D# E F# G# A#

Chords B C#m D#m E F# G#m A#dim

Notes in chord B-D#-F# C#-E-G# D-F#-A# E-G#-B F#-A#-C# G#-B-D# A#-C#-E

Four-note chords
C Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes C D E F G A B

Chords Cmaj7 Dm7 Em7 Fmaj7 G7 Am7 Bø

Notes in chord C-E-G-B D-F-A-C E-G-B-D F-A-C-E G-B-D-F A-C-E-G B-D-F-A

 C# / Db Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes C# D# E# F# G# A# B#

Chords C#maj7 D#m7 E#m7 F#maj7 G#7 A#m7 B#ø

Notes in C#-E#- D#-F#- E#-G#- F#-A#- G#-B#- A#-C#- B#-D#-

chord G#-B# A#-C# B#-D# C#-E# D#-F# E#-G# F#-A#

D Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes D E F# G A B C#

Chords Dmaj7 Em7 F#m7 Gmaj7 A7 Bm7 C#ø

Notes in D-F#-A- E-G-B- F#-A-C#- G-B-D- A-C#-E- B-D-F#- C#-E-G-

chord C# D E F# G A B

D# / Eb Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes D# F G G# A# C D

Chords D#maj7 Fm7 Gm7 G#maj7 A#7 Cm7 Dø

Notes in D#-G-A#- F-G#-C- G-A#-D- G#-C-D#- A#-D-F- C-D#-G- D-F-G#-

chord D D# F G G# A# C

E Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

 Notes E F# G# A B C# D#

Chords Emaj7 F#m7 G#m7 Amaj7 B7 C#m7 D#ø

Notes in E-G#-B- F#-A- G#-B-D#- A-C#-E- B-D#- C#-E- D#-F#-A-

chord D# C#-E F# G# F#-A G#-B C#

F Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes F G A Bb C D E

Chords Fmaj7 Gm7 Am7 Bbmaj7 C7 Dm7 Eø

Notes in chord F-A-C-E G-Bb-D-F A-C-E-G Bb-D-F-A C-E-G-Bb D-F-A-C E-G-Bb-D

F# / Gb Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes F# G# A# B C# D# F

Chords F#maj7 G#m7 A#m7 Bmaj7 C#7 D#m7 Fø

Notes in F#-A#- G#-B-D#- A#-C#-F- B-D#-F#- C#-F- D#-F#- F-G#-B-

chord C#-F F# G# A# G#-B A#-C# D#

G Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes G A B C D E F#

Chords Gmaj7 Am7 Bm7 Cmaj7 D7 Em7 F#ø

Notes in chord G-B-D-E A-C-E-G B-D-F#-A C-E-G-B D-F#-A-C E-G-B-D F#-A-C-E

G# / Ab Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes G# A# B# C# D# F G

Chords G#maj7 A#m7 B#m7 C#maj7 D#7 Fm7 Gø

Notes in G#-B#- A#-C#-F- B#-D#-G- C#-F-G#- D#-G- F-G#- G-A#-

chord D#-F G# A# B# A#-C# B#-D# C#-F

A Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes A B C# D E F# G#

Chords Amaj7 Bm7 C#m7 Dmaj7 E7 F#m7 G#ø

Notes in A-C#-E- B-D-F#- C#-E-G#- D-F#-A- E-G#-B- F#-A-C#- G#-B-D-

chord F# A B C# D E F#

A# / Bb Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes A# C D D# F G A

Chords A#maj7 Cm7 Dm7 D#maj7 F7 Gm7 Aø

Notes in A#-D-F- C-D#-G- D-F-A- D#-G-A#- F-A-C- G-A#-D- A-C-D#-

chord G A# C D D# F G

B Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes B C# D# E F# G# A#

Chords Bmaj7 C#m7 D#m7 Emaj7 F#7 G#m7 A#ø

Notes in B-D#-F#- C#-E- D-F#-A#- E-G#-B- F#-A#- G#-B-D#- A#-C#-

chord G# G#-B C# D# C#-E F# E-G#

A# / Bb Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes A# C D D# F G A

Chords A#maj7 Cm7 Dm7 D#maj7 F7 Gm7 Aø

Notes in A#-D-F- C-D#-G- D-F-A- D#-G-A#- F-A-C- G-A#-D- A-C-D#-

chord G A# C D D# F G

B Major Scale Four-note chords

Degrees Imaj7 iim7 iiim7 IVmaj7 V7 vim7 viiø

Notes B C# D# E F# G# A#

Chords Bmaj7 C#m7 D#m7 Emaj7 F#7 G#m7 A#ø

Notes in B-D#-F#- C#-E- D-F#-A#- E-G#-B- F#-A#- G#-B-D#- A#-C#-

chord G# G#-B C# D# C#-E F# E-G#

Five-note chords
C Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes C D E F G A
 Chords Cmaj9 Dm9 Em7(b9) Fmaj9 G9 Am9

Notes in chord C-E-G-B-D D-F-A-C-E E-G-B-D-F F-A-C-E-G G-B-D-F-A A-C-E-G-B

C# / Db Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes C# D# E# F# G# A#

Chords C#maj9 D#m9 E#m7(b9) F#maj9 G#9 A#m9

Notes in C#-E#-G#- D#-F#- E#-G#-B#- F#-A#-C#- G#-B#- A#-C#-

chord B#-D# A#-C#-F D#-F# E#-G# D#-F#-A# E#-G#-C

D Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes D E F# G A B

Chords Dmaj9 Em9 F#m7(b9) Gmaj9 A9 Bm9

Notes in D-F#-A-C#- E-G-B-D- F#-A-C#-E- G-B-D-F#- A-C#-E-G- B-D-F#-A-

chord E F# G A B C#

D# / Eb Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes D# F G G# A# C

Chords D#maj9 Fm9 Gm7(b9) G#maj9 A#9 Cm9

Notes in D#-G-A#- F-G#-C- G-A#-D-F- G#-C-D#-G- A#-D-F- C-D#-G-

chord D-F D#-G G# A# G#-C A#-D
 E Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes E F# G# A B C#

Chords Emaj9 F#m9 G#m7(b9) Amaj9 B9 C#m9

Notes in E-G#-B- F#-A-C#-E- G#-B-D#- A-C#-E- B-D#-F#- C#-E-G#-B-

chord D#F# G# F#-A G#-B A-C# D#

F Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes F G A Bb C D

Chords Fmaj9 Gm9 Am7(b9) Bbmaj9 C9 Dm9

Notes in chord F-A-C-E-G G-Bb-D-F-A A-C-E-G-A# Bb-D-F-A-C C-E-G-Bb-D D-F-A-C-E

F# / Gb Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes F# G# A# B C# D#

Chords F#maj9 G#m9 A#m7(b9) Bmaj9 C#9 D#m9

Notes in F#-A#-C#- G#-B-D#- A#-C#-F- B-D#-F#- C#-F-G#- D#-F#-A#-

chord G# F#-A# G#-B A#-C# B-D# C#-F

G Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

 Notes G A B C D E

Chords Gmaj9 Am9 Bm7(b9) Cmaj9 D9 Em9

Notes in chord G-B-D-E-A A-C-E-G-B B-D-F#-A-C C-E-G-B-D D-F#-A-C-E E-G-B-D-F#

G# / Ab Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes G# A# B# C# D# F

Chords G#maj9 A#m9 B#m7(b9) C#maj9 D#9 Fm9

Notes in G#-B#-D#- A#-C#-F- B#-D#-G-A#- C#-F-G#- D#-G-A#- F-G#-B#-

chord F-A# G#-C C# B#-D# C#-F D#-G

A Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes A B C# D E F#

Chords Amaj9 Bm9 C#m7(b9) Dmaj9 E9 F#m9

Notes in A-C#-E- B-D-F#-A- C#-E-G#-B- D-F#-A- E-G#-B-D- F#-A-C#-E-

chord F#-B C# D C#-E F# G#

A# / Bb Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes A# C D D# F G

Chords A#maj9 Cm9 Dm7(b9) D#maj9 F9 Gm9

Notes in A#-D-F-G- C-D#-G-A#- D-F-A-C- D#-G-A#-D- F-A-C-D#- G-A#-D-F-

 chord C D D# F G A

B Major Scale Five-note chords

Degrees Imaj9 iim9 iiim7(b9) IVmaj9 V9 vim9

Notes B C# D# E F# G#

Chords Bmaj9 C#m9 D#m7(b9) Emaj9 F#9 G#m9

Notes in B-D#-F#- C#-E-G#- D-F#-A#- E-G#-B- F#-A#-C#- G#-B-D#-

chord G#-# B-D# C#-E D#-F# E-G# F#-A#

Six- and seven-note chords

If including up to seven notes, some of the possible chords are Imaj13, iim13, iiim11

add(m2), IV6/9, V11, vi11.

Using C Major Scale as an example, these would result in: Cmaj13, Dm13, Em11 add(m2),

F6/9, G11, Am11.

Understanding the tables

The tables give plenty of information and if you didn't grasp it all please read on.

Degrees: Referring to the relations of the notes in the scale on a general basis. These have

Roman numerals, why is explained below.

Notes: Simply referring to the notes in the particular scale.

Chords: Referring to the chord with the same tonic as the note.

Notes in chord: Simply referring to the notes belonging to the chord.

Roman numerals: Roman numerals indicate chord categories. Uppercase Roman numerals

represent major chords while lowercase Roman numerals represent minor chords.

°: The degree symbol represents diminished (dim).

Ø: This symbol represents a half-diminished chord.

Notes
You may notice that B# and E# are used in chord names. The reason for this it to avoid

mentioning the same letter twice. Thus, B# and E# should be treated like C and F.

Finally, the presented chord categories don't not include all chords that can be constructed

with three, four and five notes from the Major Scale. Suspended and added chords, are

two among several more categories that have been left out.