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Lesson plan · Grades 6-8 · 45 minutes

Chord Explorer

I can build major and minor triads, name the chords of a major key with Roman numerals, and hear how chords create rest and tension.

▶ Open the tool Download the tool
Standard
MU:Re7 NCAS
MU:Cr1 NCAS
Shape
Explore first
Grouping
Whole class for the hook, then pairs on devices.
You need
The tool on the projector and on student devices with headphones. Staff paper or a notebook.
Tool
curioclass.org/tools/chord-explorer/
  1. Hook5 min
  2. Explore15 min
  3. Make sense10 min
  4. Apply10 min
  5. Exit check5 min

Before class

  • Open Progressions in C major.
  • Headphones help in a busy room; the sound is made by the browser, so the tool works offline.
  • The minor key and seventh chords are not included yet.

Hook 5 min

  1. Tap I, V, vi and IV, then press Play. "Where have you heard this before?" (A lot of pop songs.)
  2. "Four chords, thousands of songs. Today you find out why they work."

Explore 15 min

  1. Pairs switch to Build a chord. Tap C on the keyboard, then switch between Major and Minor. "Only one note moves. What changes in the mood?"
  2. Pairs count the half steps in each third for major, minor, diminished and augmented, and fill in a table.
  3. Pairs go back to Progressions and watch the How far from home? meter while chords play. "Which chord pulls hardest back to I?"
  4. Pairs try the Fifties preset (I vi IV V) and compare it with the Pop anthem (I V vi IV).

Make sense 10 min

  1. Build the seven chords of C major on the board. Capitals for major (I, IV, V), lower case for minor (ii, iii, vi), and ° for diminished (vii°).
  2. Sort them by job: home (tonic), away (predominant) and tension (dominant).
  3. "The Pop anthem and the Fifties use the same four chords. Why do they feel different?" (The order changes where the tension falls.)
  4. "Change the key. The chord names change. What stays the same?" (The Roman numerals and their jobs.)

Apply 10 min

  1. Pairs play Home or not? and name each cadence: authentic, plagal, half or deceptive.
  2. Try the Surprise! preset. "How does the deceptive ending make you feel?"
  3. Pairs write their own four-chord progression in Roman numerals that ends with a strong way home, and play it.

Exit check 5 min

On a card: "Name the chords in G major: I, IV and V. Which chord creates the most tension? Write a progression that ends on a half cadence." Cards that end the half cadence on I show who needs Home or not? again.

Support and stretch

  • Support: stay in C major, with only I, IV and V.
  • Support: hum the root of each chord while it plays.
  • Stretch: "Why might a songwriter end a verse on V and save I for the end of the chorus?"
  • Stretch: try the progression in another key and spell each chord with the right flats or sharps.

Short on time

  • The four-chord hook in Progressions (5 min).
  • Major and Minor in Build a chord (5 min), then Home or not? (5 min).

How each button works is in the teacher notes. From Curio Class, free under CC BY 4.0: change it, print it, share it.