A series of chords created by using each note of a musical scale as the root note for a chord and then using the other tones within the scale to build the rest of a chord. For example, spelling triads using the major scale:
- the root or first note of the scale becomes the root of a I major chord (using the first, third, and fifth notes of the scale)
- the second note becomes the root of a ii minor chord (using the second, fourth, and sixth notes of the scale)
- the third note becomes the root of a iii minor chord (using the third, fifth, and seventh notes of the scale)
- the fourth note becomes the root of a IV major chord (using the fourth, sixth, and octave/first notes of the scale)
- the fifth note becomes the root of a V major chord (using the fifth, seventh, and second/ninth notes of the scale)
- the sixth note becomes the root of a vi minor chord (using the sixth, octave/first, and third/tenth notes of the scale)
- the seventh note becomes the root of a vii diminished chord (using the seventh, second/ninth, and fourth/eleventh notes of the scale)
Harmonized scales can be spelled on any type of scale or mode.