Music Theory

The musical alphabet is a continuum, repeating endlessly the first seven letters of the English language alphabet:

A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G

........etc

A scale is a series of tones in organized sequence.

A major scale is an eight-letter sequence of the musical alphabet.

The first of the major scale is called the tonic note, or keynote: the last letter of the major scale is the same as the keynote but it is called the octave.

Ex. C major scale

                C      D     E     F     G     A     B     C

            keynote                                         octave

The tones of the major scale can be numbered:

                C      D     E     F     G     A     B     C

                 1     2      3     4     5     6     7     8

The numbers referring to the tones of the major scale are called scales degrees.

The musical relationships between the tones of a major scale can be expressed by means of whole-steps and half steps.

                C      D     E     F     G     A     B     C

                    W    W     H    W     W    W    H     (W=whole, H=half)

The major scales are:

                C      D     E     F     G     A     B     C

                Db    Eb    F    Gb    Ab    Bb   C     Db

                D     E      F#   G     A      B    C#   D

                Eb    F      G     Ab    Bb    C    D    Eb

                E      F#    G#   A     B      C#  D#  E

                F      G      A      Bb   C      D    E    F

                Gb    Ab    Bb     B     Db    Eb   F   Gb

                G      A      B      C     D     E    F#  G

                Ab     Bb    C      Db   Eb    F    G    Ab

                A       B      C#   D     E     F#   G#  A

                Bb     C      D     Eb    F     A     B     Bb 

                B      C#     D#   E     F#   G#   B#   B

A chord is defined as two or more notes played at the same time. In popular music a chord generally has a minimum of three notes. 

The pitches which make up a chord are called chord-tones: any other pitches are called non-chord-tones. 

Chords can be related to major scales by means of scale degrees.

The chord-tone upon which the rest of the chord is built on is called the root. 

Scale           C      D     E     F     G     A     B    C

                 Keynote

degrees        1.     2.    3.    4.    5.    6.    7.    8.

chord tones   R      2     3     4     5     6     7     8

                     Root

R=is used to differentiate clearly the root of the chord from the keynote of the scale when using numbers.

A major triad consists of the root, third and fifth scale degrees (R, 3. 5.)

Ex. C major triad

A minor triad consists of the root, flatted third and fifth scale degrees ( R. b3. 5.)

Inversions

A re-arrangment of chord-tones is called an inversion.

A chord with the root as the lowest note is said to in the root position;

a chord with the third as the lowest note is said to be in the first inversion;

a chord with the fifth as lowest the is said to be in the second inversion.

Ex. C major triad

     G = 5                               C = Root                      E = 3rd

     E = 3rd                             G = 5th                       C = Root

     C = Root                           E = 3rd                        G = 5th

Root Position                    First Inversion             Second Inversion 

Since chord-tones can be rearranged into as many positions (inversions) as there are chord tones, four note chords will have four positions, five-note chords will have five positions, etc.

Specific chord positions can be indicated by using a slash mark ( / ) after the chord symbol and a letter, "R" for root position, or a number for other positions:

C/R = C major triad, root position; C/2 = C major triad, second position;

C/3 = C major triad, third position, etc.

When the composer wished to specify a particular bass note he may use a slash mark and a letter indicating the desired bass note:

C/E = C major triad (any position), E bass note;  C/G = C major triad, G bass note, etc. 

A specific chord and a specific bass note can be indicated by using two slash marks, the letter or number after the first slash indicationg the chord position, the letter after the second mark indication the bass note:

C/2/G = C major triad, second position, G bass note, etc.

As a musician you should know what chords and inversions are available to you in every key. I have posted some of the chords and inversions I use in the key of C.

Print out this chart and carry with you to church to practice after service :)

Keyboard / Piano Chords and Inversions Chart

KEY          ROOT             1ST INVERSION             SECOND INVERSION      THIRD INVERSION

C             C E G                 E G C                        G C E

Cmin        C Eb G               Eb G C                       G C Eb

C+5         C E G#               E G# C                      G# C E

C-5          C E Gb                E Gb C                      Gb C E

Cdim        C Eb Gb              Eb Gb C                     Gb C Eb

Cmaj        C E G B               E G B C                     G B C E                        B C E G

C7           C E G Bb              E G Bb C                   G Bb C E                       Bb C E G

Cm7        C Eb G Bb             Eb G Bb C                 G Bb C Eb                     Bb C Eb G

C6           C E G A                E G A C                    G A C E                        A C E G

C6, 9       E G A D                G A D E                    A D E G                        D E G A

Cm6        C Eb G A               Eb G A C                  G A C Eb                       A C Eb G

Cdm7      C Eb Gb Bbb(A)      Eb Gb Bbb C             Gb Bbb C Eb                   Bbb C Eb Gb

Cmin-5    C Eb Gb Bb            Eb Gb Bb C               Gb Bb C Eb                    Bb C Eb Gb

(Refer to chord reference charts in the course workbook)

 There are more chords once you expand to five notes and both hands. This is the theory behind chords I teach other than the 1-4-5 patterns. As you can see the inversions can be almost endless however, the chords must be able to support a melody line otherwise they are just chords. When you use these chords the bass note can come from any of the notes in that chord and "out side" that chord. This is a "relative chord" term I will refer to throughout this course.

Practice the above chords and inversions as part of your practice routine. This is just the first set for the key of C. As we go deeper into our study of chords you will learn how to use chords from other keys to support any melody line you're playing.

The progression below are major to minor triad chords I would like you to learn. Many of the current gospel songs use these patterns. They will use chords from other keys we've haven't covered as yet but its a good practice for you. Now the fingering is dependent upon how flexable and the size of your hand. Suggested fingering it 1-3-5 ( thumb, middle and pinky) but you will find that you're the judge on how comfortable you are when playing. Here we go

1. Eb G C, G B D, G C Eb. Bb C F, C Eb G, C F Ab, D G B, Eb G C.....sammy says - What scale is this?  

2. E Ab Db, Ab C Eb, Ab C F, A Db Gb, Db F Ab, Eb G Bb, Eb Ab C, E Ab Db....sammy says - What scale is this?

3. G B D , G C Eb, F A C , F Bb D, Eb G Bb, E Ab C, D F# A, D G B, B D G, C Eb G....practice the highlight notes as scale exercise.

1a. Its the C minor harmonic scale with supporting chords. I wanted you to see how by selecting chords from other keys you can change the flavor of a basic scale.

2.a. It's the Db major scale supported with major and minor chords. I teach chords around the scale note or melody line. I deviate from the 1-4-5 rule in this fashion so that I can add a new wrinkle to the melody.