Learn the fundamentals of music theory and how chords are constructed. The music is hymnals is based on the diatonic scale, which is the fundamental structure of Western European music. The diatonic scale forms the basis for harmony and chords. The diatonic scale is an eight-note scale that is built with whole and half-steps. The C major scale is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. The Am scale is A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A. A close look at the two scales reveals that they have the exact same notes but the notes are arranged in a different order. A major chord is constructed from the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the scale. The C major chord is contains the notes C, E, G. A minor chord is also built form the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the minor scale. An Am chord is A, C, E.
Grasp the basic concepts of chord theory and chord construction. Dividing chords into three main categories is a short cut to understanding chord theory. The three basic categories are major chords, minor chords and dominant 7th chords. The C major chord is C, E, G. The Cm chord is C, E-flat, G. The C7 chord is C, E, G, B-flat. Chords are constructed by adding additional notes from the scale. The Cmaj7 chord adds the seventh note of the scale. The Cmaj7 scale, therefore, contains the notes C, E, F, B.
Learn how to recognize chord inversions. Chords can be written in a variety of ways. This makes it difficult to identify a chord if you are unfamiliar with the principles of chord inversion. On a page of sheet music, such as a hymnal, the notes of the chord are stacked upon one another. This means there is a note on the bottom, notes in the middle and a note on the top. The Cmaj7 chord can be written as C, E, G, B with the C on the bottom and the B on the top. Inverting the chord means rearranging the notes. Chords are inverted for harmonic purposes. The Cmaj7 chord could be written E, G, B, C or G, B, C, E and so forth.
Pay attention to the key that the hymn is in. The number of sharps or flats at the beginning of the hymn tell you what key the hymn is in. For example, one sharp tells you the key is G major or Em. You obviously have to memorize the key signatures. All hymns are in a particular key such as C major, G major and so forth. Knowing the key is a shortcut to identifying the chords in the hymn. The chords of a particular key are also based on the diatonic scale. For example, take the C major scale, C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C, to illustrate the possible chords within the key. The formula is that the 1, 4, 5 are major chords. The 2, 3, 6 are minor chords, and the 7 is a diminished chord. If the hymn is in the key of C, the chords will be C major, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and Bdim7. The most commonly used chords in hymns are the 1, 4 and 5 chords. This narrows down a lot of the guess work. If the hymn is in C major, the 1 chord is C major, the 4 chord is F major and the 5 chord is G major.