Archive

July 6, 2026

Three Chords From One Scale

Use the C major scale to build C, F, and G chords by skipping every other note.

15 minbeginnerbuilding triads from C major / right-hand chords with left-hand roots / looping I-IV-V slowly

Today's Thing

You will play C, F, and G as clear two-hand chords, then loop them in time.

15-Minute Map

  1. 1Play the C scale
  2. 2Build the C chord
  3. 3Move the same shape
  4. 4Loop C F G C
  5. 5Finish with a cadence
C major scale C D E F G A B C C chord C E G F chord F A C G chord G B D Skip every other scale note: 1 3 5
C major gives you C, F, and G
  1. 13 min

    Play the C scale

    Place your right thumb on middle C and play C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C slowly upward. Use fingers 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 so the hand learns the map.

    Say the note names while you play the scale twice. Stop when C through C feels like one calm path, not eight separate keys.

  2. 23 min

    Build the C chord

    Return to C and skip every other scale note: C, E, G. Play those three notes together in the right hand while the left hand plays one low C.

    Hold the two-hand C chord for four slow beats. Listen for one stable sound, then lift both hands together before playing it again.

  3. 33 min

    Move the same shape

    Start on F and use the same skip pattern to play F, A, C in the right hand with a low F in the left hand. Then start on G and play G, B, D with a low G.

    Play C, E, G; F, A, C; G, B, D as separate four-beat chords. Keep the same relaxed hand shape each time, and let the left-hand root name the chord before you press.

  4. 43 min

    Loop C F G C

    Set a slow count of 1, 2, 3, 4 and play one chord per bar: C, F, G, C. The left hand always plays the chord name as a single bass note.

    Repeat the four-bar loop three times without speeding up. If a chord change feels rushed, pause and rebuild C, E, G before continuing.

  5. 53 min

    Finish with a cadence

    Play G, B, D for two beats, F, A, C for two beats, then C, E, G for four beats. Keep the left hand on G, F, then C.

    End by playing only the final C chord once more, very softly. Stop when your ear hears C, E, G as home and your hands can find it without searching.

Stop Here

Tomorrow, keep the same skip-one-note trick and look for three-note chords in another scale.