indy4 152 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I'm just starting to delve into the technicalities behind music and chord creation, and I had a question. When one's building a chord and one needs to count the intervals between the notes, does one start counting with the root of the chord or the note after it?As an example:If I were building a major 7th chord based on A natural, would this be my chord:A-C sharp-E-G sharpor would it be:A-D-F-AI always thought that the 7th was supposed to be the leading tone, and therefore it couldn't be the same note as the root, but my ventures online have given me information that contradicts that.Thanks in advance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Barnsbury 8 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 If I were building a major 7th chord based on A natural, would this be my chord:A-C sharp-E-G sharpI believe that's correct, but obviously there'll be several others who can tell you for sure.When you say you're beginning to delve into all this, are you studying it in as in a class, or doing your own research...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 152 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 A bit of both, actually. And thanks for the response! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airmanjerm 77 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I'm just starting to delve into the technicalities behind music and chord creation, and I had a question. When one's building a chord and one needs to count the intervals between the notes, does one start counting with the root of the chord or the note after it?As an example:If I were building a major 7th chord based on A natural, would this be my chord:A-C sharp-E-G sharpor would it be:A-D-F-AI always thought that the 7th was supposed to be the leading tone, and therefore it couldn't be the same note as the root, but my ventures online have given me information that contradicts that.Thanks in advance!Yes, you count the root as the first pitch; so, an AMaj7 would be: A, C#, E, G#.The 7th will never be the same as the root; the ONLY occasion would be if somebody ever said the phrase "augmented 7th." That's pretty much "never." John Williams uses the Major 7th frequently...the Raiders' March is FULL of them! -JM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 152 Posted February 6, 2009 Author Share Posted February 6, 2009 Thanks! Much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 5,520 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 That's also why the smallest (regular) interval is a (minor) second. The only interval smaller than that wouldn't be an interval but the same note. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Brausam 203 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 And yes, when you're counting always count from the root (or bass, if it's inverted) up. The bottom note should always be 1, then the next diatonic note would above would be 2 in your counting scheme and so forth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissPadmé 17 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 But when counting halftone steps, your root note is not 1 but 0 so to speak.f.e.: a small third has 3 halftone steps: 0-C 1-Db 2-D 3-Ebwell somehow logical because you are counting steps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Williamsfan301 11 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I'm just starting to delve into the technicalities behind music and chord creation, and I had a question. When one's building a chord and one needs to count the intervals between the notes, does one start counting with the root of the chord or the note after it?As an example:If I were building a major 7th chord based on A natural, would this be my chord:A-C sharp-E-G sharpor would it be:A-D-F-AI always thought that the 7th was supposed to be the leading tone, and therefore it couldn't be the same note as the root, but my ventures online have given me information that contradicts that.Thanks in advance!I think you're asking about inversions, and yes, you would start counting using the root if you're in a root position chord. However, if the chord is any of its inversions then you count the intervals from the bass note. So, to use your example (elimitating the 7th because that's a whole other nightmare): A - C# - E = M3 to m3But, 1st inversion would be this - C# - E - A = m3 to P4HOWEVER, that is NOT how it would be represented. It would be represented as a 6 3 (with the 6 above the 3); the 3 representing a 3rd above the bass and the 6 representing a 6th above the bass.In the example of the 7th, correct. The 7th will never be the same as the root, BUT, it can be in the bass if you're in 3rd inversion. That may be the contradiction you're reading. I've been teaching AP Theory this year. Don't feel bad if your brain just oozed out your ears. Happens to all of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MSM 85 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I'm just starting to delve into the technicalities behind music and chord creation, and I had a question. When one's building a chord and one needs to count the intervals between the notes, does one start counting with the root of the chord or the note after it?As an example:If I were building a major 7th chord based on A natural, would this be my chord:A-C sharp-E-G sharpor would it be:A-D-F-AI always thought that the 7th was supposed to be the leading tone, and therefore it couldn't be the same note as the root, but my ventures online have given me information that contradicts that.Thanks in advance!Yes, you count the root as the first pitch; so, an AMaj7 would be: A, C#, E, G#.The 7th will never be the same as the root; the ONLY occasion would be if somebody ever said the phrase "augmented 7th." That's pretty much "never." John Williams uses the Major 7th frequently...the Raiders' March is FULL of them! -JMAnd I love them, especially the Cmaj7 ones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 44 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 That's also why the smallest (regular) interval is a (minor) second. The only interval smaller than that wouldn't be an interval but the same note.That is referred to as an interval actually. It's called a Perfect Unison (C to C) or a Diminished Second (C to D double-flat). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indy4 152 Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 Wow, thanks all for the responses! My brain is most certainly oozing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hlao-roo 388 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Don't feel bad if your brain just oozed out your ears. Happens to all of us.Socrates excepted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 5,520 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 That is referred to as an interval actually. It's called a Perfect Unison (C to C) or a Diminished Second (C to D double-flat).Oh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 44 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I'm sorry, I know I really sound like a nerd. Truth is I'm a music theory teacher. I live and breathe this stuff every day. I just can't switch it off... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delorean90 32 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I just thank God that there are people like you who just flow that way. I'm having to work at it some--it's not terrible, but the concepts certainly don't always come to me as easily as I'd like them to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian Schedenig 5,520 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 I'm sorry, I know I really sound like a nerd.No. It's just that I tried to put my little knowledge in a sentence that likely couldn't be wrong in any way, and still failed. ^_^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Williamsfan301 11 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Socrates excepted.Oh, blow it out your a$$, Alan.Truth is I'm a music theory teacher.FRIEND!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 44 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Oh no! There are two of us??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Williamsfan301 11 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Oh no! There are two of us??? Always two there are. No more. No less Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixie_twinkle 44 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 But which is the master, and which the apprentice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Williamsfan301 11 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 But which is the master, and which the apprentice? In time you will call me.......master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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