Episode 13 delves into triads and sevenths chords, and takes you through the four types of chord qualities.
Episode 13 delves into triads and sevenths chords, and takes you through the four types of chord qualities (0:56). Discover the symbols you will need to know for the exam, and how to decipher them (4:26). Practice along with singing arpeggiations of natural triads and seventh chords (4:44).
Question of the day: (6:10) How would you label the chord with pitches A, C, D#?
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Hi and welcome to the APsolute Recap: Music Theory Edition. Today’s episode will recap Triads and Chord Qualities
Lets Zoom out:
We’re in Unit 3 Music Fundamentals
Topic 3.1
Our Big idea is pitch
Notes can be demonstrated consecutively or simultaneously. The variation of the way pitch is presented is what makes a large variety of musical styles and genres. When there are three or more pitches sounding at the same time, then it is considered a chord.
Lets Zoom in:
Triads- remember tri is the prefix for three- they are chords with three notes stacked on top of each other. Whether it be three line notes, or three space notes, they just have to be placed in thirds. Whatever the root note is, should have the third and fifth written above it. For example: if E is the root, then G is the third, and B is the fifth. This chord is E minor.
Seventh chords are simply triads with another note stacked on top. Whatever the root bottom pitch is, will have the third, fifth and seventh stacked on top.
For example: if E is the root, then G is the third, B is the fifth, and D is the seventh. This is an e minor chord with a minor seventh.
Seventh chords officially contain four pitches, but often have pitches left out in certain inversions and musical arrangements. One example of a seventh chord with a note missing would be E the root, G the third, and D the seventh. Generally speaking, the root has to be present somewhere in chord arrangement.
In any triad chord example, the chord quality could be changed with sharps or flats to make the chord major, minor, diminished, or augmented.
Major is noted with a capital M. It is when a major third is stacked with a minor third.
Minor is noted with a lower case m. This is when a minor third is stacked with a major third. Minor chords are just like a major chord with the third degree lowered a half step.
Diminished is noted with a lower case d, but most commonly seen as dim or a degree sign. This is when a minor third is stacked with another minor third. Diminished chords are minor chords with the fifth degree lowered a half step. The word diminish literally means to decrease.
Augmented is noted with a capital A, and sometimes a plus sign. I bet you can guess that this chord is a major third stacked with a major third, just the opposite of a diminished chord. Augmented chords are major chords with the fifth raised a half step. The word augment literally means to increase.
For the exam you will need to use symbols to show pitches and chords. It is imperative that you are familiar with reading and deciphering these symbols, so that you can feel comfortable analyzing written or performed music for yourself. Using solfege, you should be able to arpeggiate different types of triads, and their inversions.
Now we need to dive into arpeggiating triads with solege. One of the best ways to practice is to go through all triads in a natural minor scale. I will use A3 as my starting pitch.
La do mi
Ti re fa
Do mi sol
Re fa la
Mi sol ti
Fa la do
Sol ti re
Next practice arpeggiating the seventh chords with the natural minor scale in solfege. Starting again with A3.
La do mi sol
Ti re fa la
Do mi sol ti
Re fa la do
Mi sol ti re
Fa la do mi
Sol ti re fa
To recap……
Triads are chords with three pitches stacked on top of each other in thirds. Seventh chords are triads with the seventh degree added on top. There are four types of triads- major, minor, diminished and augmented.
Coming up next on the APsolute RecAP Music Theory Edition: Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals
Today’s Question of the day is about chord qualities.
Question: How would you label the chord with pitches A, C, D#?