Music · Music Theory · Lesson 3
Scales and Chords
Tell the difference between notes in a line and notes stacked together.
One idea
Plain-language explanation
A scale is notes walking one after another, like steps up a staircase. A chord is notes sounding together, like friends standing side by side for a photograph. Both use the same musical alphabet.
Do this now
Three tiny steps
- Play or sing C, then D, then E: that is a tiny scale.
- Play C and E together if you have a keyboard: that begins a chord sound.
- Listen for the difference: one-after-another versus together.
Two-minute practice
Try it yourself
Say: “Scale means a line. Chord means together.” Then demonstrate each one with any two or three notes.
Quick check
Show you have the idea
Which description fits a chord?