A chord, in music, is any harmonic set of pitches consisting of multiple notes that are sounded simultaneously, or nearly so. Chords are the harmonic framework found within music and are defined by their root note and their quality (major, minor, 7, etc) - and eventually by their inversion. In tonal Western classical music, the most frequently encountered chords are triads, which consist of three distinct notes: the root note, and intervals of a third and a fifth above the root note. Chords with more than three notes include added tone chords, extended chords, and tone clusters, which are used in contemporary classical music, jazz, and almost any other genre.
Chords are important for developing the structure of a song and helping to define different sections of a song with the use of chord progressions. A chord progression is a series of chords played in a sequence, and progressions are used to add harmonic content to a song and create a sense of ‘movement’ within the music. They can also be used to provide a melody with context and allow the characteristics of a melody to be clearly heard. Chords can also be used rhythmically to make a song more interesting and unique.
