At its simplest, CST posits that every chord is derived from a "parent" scale. A chord is essentially a "vertical" stack of notes, while a scale is a "horizontal" linear arrangement of those same pitches. For example:
By associating a specific scale with a chord, a musician gains a "roadmap" of which notes will sound harmonically coherent during an improvisation. Key Frameworks and Applications The chord scale theory and jazz harmony
Rearranging these notes linearly results in the . At its simplest, CST posits that every chord