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Step 1
Define an octave as the difference in pitch between two tones where the frequency of one tone is twice that of the other. Western music divides the octave into 12 evenly spaced notes known as the chromatic scale.
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Step 2
Construct the diatonic scale using the following notes from the chromatic scale: 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12. Note that the diatonic scale has seven notes in each octave with the following intervals 2, 2, 1, 2, 2 and 2 where these numbers represent the number of tones separating successive notes.
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Step 3
Observe the major and minor triads that form the basis of most guitar chords today. The major triad is the first, third and fifth note of the diatonic scale while the minor triad is the first, flatted third and fifth notes of this scale.
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Step 4
Add a note that forms a seventh interval above the chord's root. This addition forms the seventh chords that are so prevalent in jazz music today.
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Step 5
Use chords to support the melody of a song. The simplest melody is a sequence of individual notes within a scale, called the song's key.






