To all musicians out there, care to teach me some music theory?
By jedimind
@jedimind (200)
Singapore
November 28, 2008 7:05am CST
i just thought of starting this discussion because i am really interested in learning a bit of music theory. i'm what some might call... a self-taught guitarist so in terms of music theory, i have close to zero knowledge about it.
my question i would like to ask for now would be, why are chords in a certain way? like for example, when you say the A chord, it consists of A, C# and E. i know there is something called the triad, which is how you can find the notes for each chord. so is that the theory behind notes in a chord? triads?
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2 responses
@armrd829 (74)
• Singapore
29 Nov 08
I think, yes, there's such theory. Like what you said "A chord, it consists of A,C#,and E." That's called A major chord. Major chord, for C chord, consists of the root (here is C), major third (E), perfect fith (G). C-E-G.
There are other chords like Minor, Diminished, Augmented, Suspended.
Minor chord, for eg A minor, consists of root (A), minor third (usually 3 semitones higher than the root, here is C), and perfect fifth (E), A-C-E.
Augmented chord, for C augmented (in symbol, C^+), consists of 2 major thirds. In short, it's similar to C major chord, but the in augmented C, the perfect fifth will be sharpened (raised up by a semitone), so C-E-G#.
Diminished chord, for Edim, is a minor chord, but with diminished fifth in it. Em: E-G-B. But Edim: E-G-B^b (or A#).
From what i know there are 2 types of Suspended chord:
1) a chord in which the third is replaced with a perfect forth (for G: G-B-D; Gsus4: G-C-D)
2) the third is accompanied with major second (sorry, not really familiar with this).
I dont have strong background in theory either. I learned from a christian music book that provides such info. Keep up what you're doing. :)
@jedimind (200)
• Singapore
29 Nov 08
hi, so like you explained for the A minor. is it alright to say to play it, you use the root chord (A), then flat the 3rd (C# becomes a C) and then the 5th (E).
so with that, whenever i play any minor chord, i just have to flat the 3rd. is it alright to say that?
okay, and for augmented, if i'm reading you right, it just means to sharp the 5th note?
and for the diminish, just have to flat the 5th note?
i'm just attempting to summarize what you said, am i correct so far?
@redzredula (466)
• Philippines
28 Nov 08
nope, that's not really it. didn't you know you can even make on your own. there is this skill called for this one. and i forgot, what word it it.
