Keyboard shortcuts

Go home G then H
Browse sets G then B
Create set G then C
My library G then L
Show shortcuts ?
Go back Swipe from left edge
Library

Music Theory — Chords and Progressions

Building blocks of harmony in Western music

C
chord_wizard99 15 terms Jan 16, 2026
Flashcards
Learn
Written
Match
Test
Blitz

Terms 15

1
Major Chord
Root, major 3rd, perfect 5th; sounds bright and happy
2
Minor Chord
Root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th; sounds darker or sadder
3
Diminished Chord
Root, minor 3rd, diminished 5th; tense and unstable sound
4
Augmented Chord
Root, major 3rd, augmented 5th; mysterious, unresolved sound
5
7th Chord
Triad plus a 7th interval; adds color and complexity
6
I–IV–V–I Progression
Most common Western chord progression; tonic to subdominant to dominant to tonic
7
ii–V–I
Jazz staple chord progression; common resolution pattern
8
Circle of Fifths
Diagram showing relationships between all 12 major and minor keys
9
Chord Inversion
Chord with a note other than the root in the bass
10
Cadence
Harmonic phrase marking the end of a musical section
11
Modulation
Changing from one key to another within a piece
12
Dominant
The fifth degree of a scale; creates tension that resolves to tonic
13
Subdominant
Fourth degree of a scale; moves away from tonic
14
Tonic
First degree of a scale; home base of a key
15
Voice Leading
Smooth movement of individual notes between chords