Phase 1: Harmony
1. & 2. Triads and Seventh Chords
1. & 2. Triads and Seventh Chords
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Summary:
Major and Minor Triads
• Three notes stacked in 3rds
• Major 3rd above bass = Major Triad
• Minor 3rd above bass = Minor Triad
• Notes can be doubled, creating many possible chords
• Notes can be rotated, resulting in inversions (root, 1st and 2nd)
• Notes can be spaced in different ways: closed and open (and mixed)
• Diminished triad (minor 3rd + diminished 5th) = common
• Augmented triad (major 3rd + augmented 5th) = not so common
Seventh Chords
• Adding another 3rd to a triad results in a seventh chord
• There are 4 types. Only the first and last are commonly used in classical music
1) Dominant 7th (Major triad + Minor 7th above root)
2) Minor 7th (Minor triad + Minor 7th above root)
3) Half Diminished 7th = Diminished triad + Minor 7th above root)
4) Full Diminished 7th = Diminished triad + Diminished 7th above root)
• Because there are four notes, there are four ways to order the notes (root, 1st, 2nd and 3rd inversions)
Major and Minor Triads
• Three notes stacked in 3rds
• Major 3rd above bass = Major Triad
• Minor 3rd above bass = Minor Triad
• Notes can be doubled, creating many possible chords
• Notes can be rotated, resulting in inversions (root, 1st and 2nd)
• Notes can be spaced in different ways: closed and open (and mixed)
• Diminished triad (minor 3rd + diminished 5th) = common
• Augmented triad (major 3rd + augmented 5th) = not so common
Seventh Chords
• Adding another 3rd to a triad results in a seventh chord
• There are 4 types. Only the first and last are commonly used in classical music
1) Dominant 7th (Major triad + Minor 7th above root)
2) Minor 7th (Minor triad + Minor 7th above root)
3) Half Diminished 7th = Diminished triad + Minor 7th above root)
4) Full Diminished 7th = Diminished triad + Diminished 7th above root)
• Because there are four notes, there are four ways to order the notes (root, 1st, 2nd and 3rd inversions)
Action Points:
1. Practice Major and Minor triads in various keys
2. Practice moveable triad shapes
3. Identify triads in selected pieces
4. Identify triads in pieces you're playing (be specific about inversions, spacing, doublings, etc.
5. Practice moveable Dominant 7th chords
6. Identify 7th chords in pieces you're playing (be specific about inversions, etc.)
1. Practice Major and Minor triads in various keys
2. Practice moveable triad shapes
3. Identify triads in selected pieces
4. Identify triads in pieces you're playing (be specific about inversions, spacing, doublings, etc.
5. Practice moveable Dominant 7th chords
6. Identify 7th chords in pieces you're playing (be specific about inversions, etc.)
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