Originally Posted by: CSchlegelThe standard triad chords for a key are derived from building a chord containing a 1st, 3rd & 5th relationship on every note of a scale using only notes from that scale.

Right.

But of course you can alter the scale in order to get different chords. This is the reason the harmonic minor scale exists. In order to get a major V chord (with a good leading tone!) - in C minor this results in a G major chord (or any G with a major 3rd, like G7) you need to have the major 7th degree - in C minor a B natural, instead of a B flat. And melodic minor also raises the 6th degree so you get an A instead of A flat and therefore a major IV chord.

Hope this helps.

I know that chords are ESSENTIALLY based off of the 1st, 3rd, 5th degrees, unless it's suspended, for example, and the 3rd is replaced by it's 4th... I was talking about the chords that make up the key, not what makes up the chords... Thanks though, what you said helped.