Most hymns use three chords. Some hymns have minor chords. I use only the three major chords in my easy hymns. Soprano, alto, and tenor notes are treble voices and form the chord being used. However, the tenor note is written in the bass clef. The bass note is a repeat an octave lower of the root of what ever chord is used. Soprano and alto notes are mostly thirds and sixths. Occasionally the notes may be other intervals. The tenor note is needed to complete the chord. Soprano and alto duets sound fine if they are thirds and/or sixths. If not, the accompaniment is used to complete the chord. Occasionally other minor chords are used in hymns. In my easy hymns I don�t use any minor chords but you may use them if appropriate. All of my easy hymns use only three chords. As you may have noticed, the tonic chord in the key is used and the chords on either side of the circle of fifths are used. Generally, when a hymn begins, the soprano note is a note in the tonic chord. The next to last chord is a seventh chord and the last note for the soprano is the root note in the tonic chord in the key.
In my easy hymns, the chord in the bass clef is used which is appropriate for the melody note in the treble clef. The tonic chord (I) is used to begin and end the hymn. It and the other two chords are used as appropriate in the hymn.
I have chosen to use an example to show you how to make an easy hymn. This will be easier than trying to tell you the rules in general terms. Even if I did that, I would still need an example to show you what to do. My example will be in the key of C but the procedure would be the same regardless of which key you would use.
The C chord (C E G) is in the root position.
An inversion of a chord is done by moving the bottom note to the top.
The F chord (F A C) will be in the second inversion.
The G7 chord (G B D F) will be in the first inversion. The D will be dropped.
This puts the chords close together. You don�t need to move your hands and it sounds better.
The F and G7 chords are on either side of the C chord in the Circle of Fifths.
For the key of C, the three chords are:
C E G. The following two chords are made by adjusting the fingers of the C chord.
C F A. Raise the E � step to the F and raise the G 1 step to the A.
B F G. Lower the C � step to the B and raise the E � step to the F.
The following indicates which chord to use with each note of the melody.
The C chord will be used with the C, E, and G.
The F chord will be used with the A (the 6th note in the scale).
The G7 chord will be used with the D, F, and B.
For the key of F, the three chords are:
F A C
F Bflat D
E Bflat C
For the key of G, the three chords are:
G B D
G C E
Fsharp C D
Please refer to the html page, Circle of Fifths: Three-Key Groups, for additional information.
Please see the Easy Hymns for examples.