- Single notes played in succession are melodies (tunes), notes played together are chords.
- Any two notes played together will sound a chord, but usually it takes three or more to make a 'real' chord
- If the notes of a chord are played in succession rather than together, it is an arpeggio
You've got to learn about scales to appreciate chords, but its well worth it. Every scale has a set of 8 notes from the root note to the octave. You play these notes for scale practice don't you? (don't you?) e.g. Scale of (or Key of) G is:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
G |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F# |
G |
Chords start with the lowest note, called the root. So a G something chord starts with a G note and adds some higher notes. Two notes of a scale together is called an interval, the name of the interval being derived from how far apart the two notes are.
1st note (root) |
2nd note |
interval |
comment |
1 |
1 |
unison |
two notes sound the same like the twin strings on a mandolin course |
1 |
2 |
2nd |
|
1 |
3 |
3rd |
a very important interval! It determines whether chords are major or
minor |
1 |
4 |
4th |
|
1 |
5 |
5th |
An interval that's usually present in any chord |
1 |
6 |
6th |
A pleasant sounding interval |
1 |
7 |
7th |
This one is straining to go up one to become octave |
1 |
8 |
octave |
two notes sound the same but an octave apart |
These so called 'diad' chords sound OK but lack a bit of body. Some forms are very effective though, such as the 5th (see Power Chords) Proper chords use three or more notes.
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