Things You'll Need:
- Guitar
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Step 1
Learn the notes of the major scale. The major scale has seven notes. Let's take a simple example using the C major scale. The notes in C major are C D E F G A B, and then the scale repeats again beginning on C.
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Step 2
Learn the intervals that make up a triad. A triad is a three note chord. It is the most basic chord form. To harmonize the major scale you will form triads using the notes that make up the major scale. In a basic triad, each note is a third apart from the previous note. For example, to form a C major triad, you would start on C, then go up a third to E, and then another third to G. So, the C major triad would be C E G.
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Step 3
Form triads on each of the seven scale degrees. Take the rule you learned for forming a triad in step 2 and apply it to each note of the major scale. You already know that a C major triad is C E G. Your next triad would be D minor. The notes of a D minor triad are D F A. You arrive at this the same way as you made your C major triad. You begin on D, the root note, then go up a third to F, then another third to A. An easy way to remember this interval is to just count up 3 notes from your previous scale note. Here is a complete list of the triads in the harmonized C major scale.C E G = C majorD F A = D minorE G B = E minorF A C = F majorG B D = G majorA C E = A minorB D F = B diminished
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Step 4
Take the major scale triads and apply them to the guitar. Here are chord shapes for each of the triads written in tablature.C major = X32010D minor = XX0231E minor = 022000F major = XX3211G major = 320003A minor = X02210B diminished = XXX431That's it! You now know how to harmonize the major scale on the guitar!
