major chord generator
Build and Hear Major Chords
A major triad combines a major third with a perfect fifth. The third is four semitones above the root; the fifth is seven. It is the third, rather than the root letter or the inversion, that distinguishes this quality from minor.
Start with C: C · E · G. Select another root to transpose the same formula, choose a voicing and press Play chord. Each note also has its own listening button. Audio begins only after a click; there is no camera or microphone request.
Play the instrument ↑- Chord formula
- 1 · 3 · 5
- Semitone offsets
- 0 · 4 · 7
- C example
- C · E · G
- Reference tuning
- Equal temperament · A4 = 440 Hz
The major formula
A major triad combines a major third with a perfect fifth. The third is four semitones above the root; the fifth is seven. It is the third, rather than the root letter or the inversion, that distinguishes this quality from minor.
The formula 1 · 3 · 5 describes intervals from the selected root. The C example is C · E · G; these are 3 separate chord tones. A root change transposes the entire collection, while a voicing change rearranges the same pitch classes.
- Degree 1: 0 semitones above the root.
- Degree 3: 4 semitones above the root.
- Degree 5: 7 semitones above the root.
Hear the major third
Play C major, then the comparison C minor. Keep the root and fifth fixed and listen to E move down to E-flat. Repeat in F and B-flat before changing the inversion.
The Compare minor button keeps the selected root and root octave, and uses the comparison chord in root position. Set this chord to root position too for the clearest quality comparison. Use headphones or a quiet room and keep your listening volume comfortable.
Read the bass before naming an inversion
Root position starts on degree 1. First inversion starts on degree 3; second inversion starts on degree 5. This triad has three positions, so a third inversion is unavailable. The slash label shows the sounding bass and the displayed MIDI values let you verify its pitch.
Inversions preserve the root and quality. This tool raises rotated notes by an octave so the selected bass is the lowest note. For an added ninth, the inversion examples use a close pitch-class voicing; root position retains the compound ninth. These are reference voicings, not the only musical arrangements.
Try C, F and G major separately to hear three different roots with the same interval formula. This page generates one chord at a time; use the gesture instrument for live changes.
Connect the reference to gesture playing
The webcam instrument can produce major triads in its major wrist world. Its doubled four-voice voicing differs from this three-note reference.
The chord laboratory uses buttons and menus for direct note selection. The main gesture instrument uses webcam recognition and has its own supported chord controls. Open that instrument when you want live two-hand performance; the sound and voicing need not match this sine-wave reference exactly.
Spelling, playback and export limits
Major describes the chord quality, not the key of an entire song. A major chord can occur inside a minor-key progression.
Note names preserve the chosen root letter and chord degrees. A sharp, flat or double flat may sound the same as a simpler enharmonic name in equal temperament. The tool keeps the theoretical spelling while MIDI numbers show the actual sounding pitches.
The WAV download is a 2.4-second, mono, 44.1 kHz synthesized chord with a short fade. It contains the currently displayed voicing, not the comparison chord, a melody, a guitar fingering or an automatic chord progression. Stop sound cancels playback; Reset returns to C in octave 3 and root position.
Answers before you play
Major Chord Questions
What notes are in C major?
C · E · G. Their semitone offsets from C are 0, 4, 7. The displayed spelling follows the formula 1 · 3 · 5.
How is this different from minor?
Play C major, then the comparison C minor. Keep the root and fifth fixed and listen to E move down to E-flat. Repeat in F and B-flat before changing the inversion. The two generators share playback controls but use different interval formulas and note collections.
Can I use this without a webcam?
Yes. This chord tool needs no camera, microphone or account. The webcam instrument can produce major triads in its major wrist world. Its doubled four-voice voicing differs from this three-note reference.
Why is an enharmonic note spelled with a sharp or flat?
Chord degrees determine note letters. A theoretically correct spelling may include two accidentals even when a simpler name has the same MIDI pitch. Playback uses equal temperament at A4 = 440 Hz.
What can I do if sound is unavailable?
Check the tab's sound setting and your output device, then press Play chord again. The notes and local WAV download work independently of real-time playback. The page reports a Web Audio error rather than requesting microphone access.