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Chord Symbols

Definition

Chord symbols are a shorthand way of representing the chords used in a piece of music. They consist of letters and symbols that indicate the root note, quality, and any additional notes or alterations.

Analogy

Think of chord symbols as musical emojis. Just like emojis convey emotions or ideas with simple images, chord symbols convey complex harmonic information with concise symbols.

Related terms

Roman Numerals: A system that uses Roman numerals to represent the scale degrees of chords in a key.

Lead Sheet: A simplified musical score that includes melody, lyrics, and chord symbols.

Voicing: The specific arrangement or order of notes within a chord.

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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.