ROMAN NUMERALs

Welcome,

One of the elements of college education you will encounter is the use of roman numerals. Western music uses the roman numeral system to identify chord qualities like major, minor, diminished. And they also identify scale degrees of the chord qualities like 7ths, 13ths, 9s, etc.

Major and Minor scales have 8 notes with 8 triads. Each triad in the scale is either going to be major, minor, or diminished.

In major, the chord qualities are as follows:
Do = major, Re = minor, Mi = major, Fa = major, So = major, La = minor, Ti or Si = diminshed

In minor, the chord qualities are as follows:
Do = minor, Re = diminished, Mi = major, Fa = minor, So = major, La = major, Ti = major

Roman Numerals to the C major scale.

C is the first note of the scale and it is major. The triad is C-E-G and it is identified as "l"
D is the second note of the scale and it is minor. The triad is D-F-A and it is identified as "ii"
E is the third note of the scale and it is minor. The triad is E-G-B and it is identified as "iii"
F is the fourth note of the scale and it is major. The triad is F-A-C and it is identified as "lV"
G is the fifth note of the scale and is major. The triad is G-B-D and it is identified as "V"
A is the sixth note of the scale and is minor. The triad is A-C-E and it is identified as "vi"
B is the seventh note of the scale and is dimished. The triad is B-D-F and it is identified as "viiº"

Roman Numerals to the C minor scale.

C is the first note of the scale and it is minor. The triad is C-Eb-G and it is identified as "i"
D is the second note of the scale and it is diminished. The triad is D-F-Ab and it is identified as "iiº"
Eb is the third note of the scale and it is major. The triad is Eb-G-Bb and it is identified as "lll"
F is the fourth note of the scale and it is minor. The triad is F-Ab-C and it is identified as "iv"
G is the fifth note of the scale and is minor. The triad is G-B-D and it is identified as "V" (remember to raise the leading tone)
Ab is the sixth note of the scale and is major. The triad is Ab-C-Eb and it is identified as "Vl"
Bb is the seventh note of the scale and is major. The triad is Bb-D-F and it is identified as "Vll"

*Note: Always raise the leading tone in minor to make a major chord. More on that later!

You will need to memorize this system because it is referred to throughout your entire musical education.

John