[felixdcat]

Hello everybody!

I'm having problems with understanding chords lately, so I decided to ask you. So, let's say, a C chord:

It should be built out of 1st, 3rd and the 5th note of the C major scale? Now, are first three strings of that chord always these notes (seems like they are in this case), or not? I was also wondering, if not, is there some rule to find those notes in simple chords...

I know I sound pretty confused, but I am... Hope you can help me because I'm struggling in questions after I did some reading.

And yeah, do I need to know all 12 major scales by heart if I want to be able to play chords that are in same key, and understand music well?

[allthumbs]

You could look at the CAGED system. That will show you where you can play the same chord in different places. This lesson might help.
The Anatomy of a C Major Guitar Chord - The CAGED system

[felixdcat]

Um, does PlaneTalk show you the way to see specific chords? If yes, I'm wondering how it's got a byproduct that teaches you all notes on the fretboard?

[allthumbs]

You would have to buy the book. The way to see all the notes on the fretboard is too closely entwined with the P.T. concepts to reveal it here.

[felixdcat]

It's ok. Seems I didn't ask a clear question. Simple chords consist of 1-3-5, sevenths of 1-3-5-7, 6ths of 1-3-5-6... I'm trying to understand which is the 1st, 3rd, 5th note in basic chords (C, G, A)... I'm not sure if you understand...

[si16]

They can appear in any order felix, there are no set rules that way. The root note is normally played first but it's doesn't have to be. Basically any combination of the notes C, E and G can be considered a C Major chord.

[felixdcat]

Heh, kinda had a feeling it will end up like that. I see Kirk's talking about playing 1-3-5 in case of simple chords, but I'm wondering how do I know which is 1st, 3rd, 5th note in some chord...

Let me ask this question again: do I need to know all 12 major scales for improvisation?

[stringslinger]

Hi

You question is very complex to answer. There are many ways to build chords.

Ok, I'll give it short and sweet...

Major scale of C is
CDEFGABC the 1 is C the 3 is E and the 5 is G.

Ok, you COULD use this knowledge that C is made up of CEG to understand what order the notes are in.

Let me shed some light on something you may not know. In chord theory there is what is called INVERSIONS. So what is an INVERTED chord? Its one where a note other than the root (1) is in the bass.

a Chord is said to be in FIRST INVERSION when the 3 is in the bass and a chord is said to be in SECOND INVERSION when the 5 is in the bass.

So a C chord with an E in the bass is still a c chord but it is in first inversion. Chords that have more notes can be in 4th or more inversion, but the farther away from the root (1) you get the more unstable the chord usually sounds.

Many folk/bluegrass/country players use inverted chords to get that alternating bass note going. For instance if you take an Open C Chord finger the "normal" way, and then use your pinky up on the Low E string (the fat one) at the third fret (G note), you've just created on Open C chord in third inversion and this chord is used alot to alternate between the c note on the 5th string and the G on the 6th while struming the chord.

Another way to know what order the notes are in is to use the planetalk method.

Hope this helps... constructing chords, IMHO, is ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL, ENLIGHTENING AND PRODUCES A MORE KNOWLEDGABLE PLAYER than many other endeavors. I suggest you get a chart that shows the tones that make up a particular chord and build them ALL from scratch. This is easily done using planetalk. I suggest you memorize all the chord formulas (tones).. know that a major is 1 3 and 5, minor 1 flat 3 and 5... etc...

good luck.

Brian

[felixdcat]

I'll get PlaneTalk for sure... =). When I started playing, my dad told me it's all about chords, I wasn't really sure, but now I see it all comes back to it. Thanks for the big reply, Brian, and I guess I'll do my best.

[Fretsource]

Originally Posted by felixdcat

Let me ask this question again: do I need to know all 12 major scales for improvisation?

If you want to build chords and improvise around chord tones in all 12 major and minor keys, then yes, you need to know all 12 major scales.

The good news is that they are all the same in terms of note spacings, so if you know one major scale, then you can easily learn all twelve.

[felixdcat]

Ok, train TTSTTTS... Thanks for the response. I'm really glad you helped.

[Fretsource]

Originally Posted by felixdcat

Ok, train TTSTTTS... Thanks for the response. I'm really glad you helped.

Yep - That's it. And remember to change letter every note. NEVER use the same letter twice in succession. So the scale of F major is:

F (t) G (t) A (s) Bb (t) C (t) D (t) E (s) F

Note number 4 MUST be called Bb. You can't call it A# because you've already used the letter A on note 3.

[felixdcat]

Aware of that. Incorrect notation or smt.

[stringslinger]

One more thing.

YOU MUST MEMORIZE ALL THE NOTES ON THE ENTIRE FRETBOARD, OR ATLEAST THE NATURAL NOTES... ABCDEFG AND KNOW THAT THERE ISN'T A SHARP OR FLAT BETWEEN E AND F AND ALSO B AND C.

To make this easier you need to memorize the musical alphabet first if you haven't already...

A
A SHARP/B FLAT
B
C
C SHARP/D FLAT
D
D SHARP/E FLAT
E
F
F SHARP/G FLAT
G
G SHARP/A FLAT
A

This way if you learn where all the natural notes are, then the accidentals (sharps/flats) are easy... cause if you are on E then E flat is just behind E (also called D sharp). So one up from D is D sharp or E flat, one down from E is E flat or D sharp.

Brian

[Aunt Doty]

Originally Posted by felixdcat

Ok, train TTSTTTS... Thanks for the response. I'm really glad you helped.

Yep! You're on the right track!!! Sometimes you have to reword your question several times before you get the answer you're seeking, RIGHT?!