UESP Forums

You're the first person to explain that and the number issue in an understanding manner. I have another question, though. When you say major (I'm assuming minor exists as well), are you indicating whether its sharp or flat? Major=sharp, or major=flat? Or am I completely off?

The word "major" can mean a few different things in different contexts. Musicman was referring to a certain scale called the "major scale", which is an important scale to understand since it serves as a reference point for pretty much everything.

A scale can be understood as a repeating pattern of intervals called "tones" and "semitones". On the guitar, a semitone is the interval between notes that are one fret apart; on the piano, a semitone is the interval between on key and the next key, regardless of whether it's black or white (the distance between two white keys that do not have a black key between them is the same as the distance between a black key and the next white key - there's no "missing" black keys). Semitones are the smallest intervals common in most popular music (you can't even play anything smaller than this on a piano, and playing smaller ones on guitar requires banding). A "tone" is just two semitones, so, two frets on the guitar, or, on the piano, the distance between two white keys when there is a black key between them, or the distance between two black keys with a white key in between them, for example.

The major scale refers to the following pattern of tones and semitones: T T S T T T S (T = Tone; S = semitone). You can start on whatever note you like. This starting note is called the "root note", and it usually stated with the scale. "C major scale" refers to that pattern of tones and semitones, starting (and ending) on C. There's nothing particularly special about the C major scale, except that it doesn't use any black keys, making it very easy to remember. It sounds the same as any other major scale (except if you have perfect pitch, but that's extremely rare).

Occasionally, people will use "major" to describe intervals. There are four "major" intervals: 2nds, 3rds, 6ths, 7ths (4ths and 5ths are called "perfect", rather than major). The concept is quite simple: a major 3rd, for example, is just the distance between the first and 3rd notes of the major scale (4 semitones, in this case).

In other contexts, the word "major" can refer to a chord. A major chord is formed by playing the 1st, 3rd, and 5th (root, major 3rd, perfect 5th) notes of the major scale simultaneously.

I should mention that since the major scale serves as a kind of "default", actually saying "major" seems to be optional. Some choose to just say the root note when they're talking about major scales/chords/intervals. So if someone says, "This song is in the key of C," assume C major; if someone says, "Play a C chord," assume C major. Same with intervals.

Like major, minor can also refer to scales, chords and intervals. There are a number of minor scales, but just "minor" usually refers to the "natural minor scale". In tones and semitones, the natural minor scale is: T S T T S T T. It can also be referenced to the major scale like this: 1, 2, ♭3, 4, 5, ♭6, ♭7. What that means is that the natural minor scale is a major scale, but with the 3rd, 6th, and 7th notes flattened (lowered) by one semitone.

Minor chords are formed by taking the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of any minor scale (they're the same in all minor scales - in fact, that's what makes them minor scales) and playing them together. These three notes can be represented in terms of intervals: root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th; or by referencing each note to the major scale: 1, ♭3, 5.

Just like there are four major intervals (major 2nd, major 3rd, major 6th, major 7th), there are also four minor intervals (minor 2nd, minor 3rd, minor 6th, minor 7th), and in each case, the minor interval is just one semitone lower than its corresponding major interval.

Like MM said, it's not really necessary to know all this, and I'll add that learning it certainly is no guarantee that you'll be a decent musician (I mean, I know most of it, and I'm still pretty useless :p). I personally find it quite interesting, though, and I found that every time I learned a new set of chords, or a new scale, I'd find myself experimenting for hours with it. I never managed to turn any of that inspiration into a decent tune, but it was enjoyable, none the less.

I can't thank you enough for explaining that. I feel like a GOD with that knowledge. BTW, I'm assuming you could also use the 2nd, 4th, and 6th intervals for a chord. Also 3rd, 5th, and 7th? Just moving up the major/minor.

Those intervals do make chords, but minor chords (in the Major mode). To make Major chords you have to follow the intervals of tones and semitones outlined in Moeboid's post.

As a further clarification, tones are called steps while the semitones commonly used are called half-steps, as any pitch between two tones would be considered a semitone.

Yes, you can use the 2nd, 4th and 6th notes to make a chord, but you'll have to do a bit of thinking to figure out what that chord would actually be. Musicman saved you the trouble for the two examples, but here's how you figure it out for the rest:

It's a little easier if you can see the notes as well as the intervals, so here's the C major scale with the intervals between the notes included:

C (T) D (T) E (S) F (T) G (T) A (T) B (S) C

I explained that a major chord was made by playing the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the major scale simultaneously, and that we could represent those notes with either 1, 3, 5; or root, major third, perfect 5th. I also explained that a minor chord is formed by playing the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the minor scale simultaneously, and that we could represent those notes with either 1, ♭3, 5; or root, minor third, perfect fifth. However, we now actually have to know what those intervals actually look like in terms of tones and semitones.

If you look at the notes above, you can see that the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the major scale are C, E and G. The distance between C and E is two steps (tones), so a major third is any interval of two steps. A minor third (♭3) is therefore obviously just 1.5 steps (one tone plus one semitone). The distance between C and G is 3.5 steps (three tones, one semitone), and so any interval of 3.5 steps is a perfect fifth.

You now know enough to figure out what chords you can make out of all those notes:

Starting on D (D, F, A)
D (T) E (S) F (T) G (T) A - (Copied from above)
D to F = 1.5 steps (1 tone, 1 semitone) = Minor third
D to A = 3.5 steps (3 tones, 1 semitone) = Perfect fifth
Minor chord

Starting on E (E, G, B)
E (S) F (T) G (T) A (T) B
E to G = minor third (1.5 steps)
E to B = perfect fifth (3.5 steps)
Minor chord

Starting on F (F, A, C)
F (T) G (T) A (T) B (S) C
F to A = major third (2 steps)
F to C = perfect fifth (3.5 steps)
Major chord

Starting on G (G, B, D)
G (T) A (T) B (S) C (T) D
G to B = major third (2 steps)
G to D = perfect fifth (3.5 steps)
Major chord

Starting on A (A, C, E)
A (T) B (S) C (T) D (T) E
A to C = minor third (1.5 steps)
A to E = perfect fifth (3.5 steps)
Minor chord

Starting on B (B, D, F)
B (S) C (T) D (T) E (S) F
B to D = minor third (1.5 steps)
B to F = 3 steps... Wait, what?

Maybe I should've explained that beforehand. The interval of three steps has a number of names: diminished 5th, augmented 4th or tritone (Get it? Three tones?). In this case, we would call it a diminished 5th, since it actually is a 5th (5th note of the scale, starting on B), but it's diminished (flattened). The chord that these intervals (minor third, diminished 5th) make is called a "diminished triad". To be honest, it's safe to just forget about this chord. It sounds awful, and no one ever uses it - especially in today's popular music. Seriously, in the 14 years that I've been playing guitar, I've never found one used in a song.

Just summarising the stuff above, here are the Major/Minor chords that fit into the C major scale:
C Major
D Minor
E Minor
F Major
G Major
A Minor
(B Diminished)

To play the guitar, I either convert songs I know from the piano, or I sound out songs. Both are somewhat easy.

Very recently I picked up the (electric) guitar. Currently I'm playing on an old Stagg that has seen better days but I'm having a lot of fun. I'm not taking any 'real' lessons, but so far Justin Guitar and Rocksmith (great game) have helped me tremendously. I'm hoping I can stick with it.

A few months ago I got this century-old beauty passed down I me from my grandparents!

I presume people play instruments here. That's kind of a universal thing anywhere. Personally, I play guitar (acoustic) and bass guitar (electric), and also sing but poorly I've been playing guitar on and off my entire life, bass guitar for two years pretty solid, and singing my entire life. I play with my friends in a fairly loose affiliation called the Nearly Awfuls. How about you? When did you start playing? Do you play with anyone else? What's your favourite song to play? etc.

Hey!

About you(/me)I don't read sheet music. I've happily never been taught any type of music; completely learning tunes by ear through passion.

When did you start playing? I started playing Keyboard by the end of 9th grade and Electric Guitar by the end of 10th Grade where I also purchased an upright digital piano at this time

Do you play with anyone else? Sometimes 2 of my friends, simultaneously? Less often than separately, usually just practicing.

What's your favourite song to play, etc? I play many genre of songs, however all of which are from video games, ranging from Metal Gear Solid, Banjo-Kazooie+Tooie and Mario, to Donkey Kong and Zelda, to even RuneScape and Skyrim. My favourite tunes are those which I recall from when I was a child; Banjo-Kazooie, Gruntilda's Battle is by far my favourite to play on piano. Gobi's Valley (Rock/Remix) on Electric Guitar.

Things I enjoy: Using my Keyboard's built in simultaneous instrumental recording feature to remake perfect MIDI's from N64 or RS.

EDIT: This got merged... -_- Forget the bold writing.

Here's my "instrument".



It's the funnest. I can also play the E-bass I guess but that's less cool.

BONUS: exclusive link to a fresh sketch of a phresh track. It's not much, but I've come a long way since I started 6 months ago.

I've been playing piano for almost 8 years now. I love to play 50s jazz music.

Don't we already have a thread for this?

when the question was asked of me first time around I just said guitar, never thinking to show you mine, so, here's my baby:


I loves her.


I've played everything from Stairway to Heaven and Imagine Dragons, to Hail to the King on Beauty (yes, she has a name.), and I've never managed to find a style out of her comfort zone

Odd, I thought you played that 6 foot long Barrett .50 cal.sniper rifle, merrily singing 'Oh Christmas Tree' interspersed with the sounds of muffled gun fire on prominent notes?

Also, a pick-eater too I see.

Well, it's a been a while myself since I've shown off. So I'll show my guitar and my piano...By the by, Goldbrand, I have to admit that guitar is very beautiful.






Yeah, got to see a little of my "work" area. The new piano is in the corner where my amp is, which sounds great, since it's empty, so the acoustics ring so much clearer.

I actually named my Strat after my cat, Amber.

And I couldn't get a crystal clear pic of my Yamaha, so I just went with the best take.