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Year 10 - Music

Developing a chord sequence

Fundamentals of composition

Unit Summary

This unit explores fundamental components of composition. It embeds and develops pupils' understanding of writing melodies, including idiomatic features and making a melody sound 'melodic'. It also explores effective writing of chord sequences, and how these intertwine with melodic writing.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to develop a chord sequence using broken chords and chord inversions.

Key Notes

  • Chord inversions and broken chords can add interest to a chord sequence without changing the harmony.
  • Chord inversions change the root position triad so the root note is no longer the lowest note in the chord.
  • Using chord inversions can make chord sequences easier to play and sound more melodic.
  • Broken chords can add rhythmic interest to a chord sequence.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Chord inversion: when the notes of a chord are reordered so that the root is not the lowest note
  • Triad: a standard 3-note chord, with notes a third apart
  • Root note: the bottom note in a triad, and the note the chord is named after (e.g. the note in a G chord)
  • Root position: a chord in which the root note is the lowest note
  • Broken chord: when the notes of a chord are not all played at the same time (in contrast to a block chord)

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Using chord inversions for every chord will make the chord sequence more interesting.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

Chord inversions and broken chords can add interest to a chord sequence without changing the harmony. Chord inversions change the root position triad so the root note is no longer the lowest note in the chord.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Chord inversion'

when the notes of a chord are reordered so that the root is not the lowest note.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: Using chord inversions for every chord will make the chord sequence more interesting. Correction: Using some inversions can make the chord sequence more interesting, but too many can sound unusual. Starting and finishing with a root position chord can help to reinforce the key.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 Music guide library.