[Shady Starlight]

I know a lot of musical terms in Swedish, problem is I don't know 'em all in English.
I've tried searching 'round the internet for the translations, but simply can't find them.
Especially 2 things I don't understand at all:
Dropped (As in Dropped D)
Diminished chords

Also I'm curious 'bout how to write the scalenames.
Phrygian I know... not the rest though.

Edit: Noticed that I might have asked in the wrong Forum. Sorry if that's the case. =o

[chuckswood2001]

hi Shady


give this site a try for scalenames www.marktiarra.com/music he ecplains a lot of stuff about scales, u might also try www.guitarnoise.com i think there is a article on dropped D tunning

chuck

[nowhere-man]

Hi Shady, this link should help re dropped D tuning I hope.

http://www.acousticguitar.com/lessons/dropped_d/1.shtml

[Donovan]

Hi Shady,

Dropped tunings refer to taking a regular tuning and lowering just 1 (or sometimes 2) of the strings. In the case of Dropped-D, it's the same as standard tuning (EADGBE) but has the low E string lowered to a D so that you get DADGBE. There are other drop-tunings out there, but this is the most common one.

Drop-tuning is NOT the same as "tuning-down" or "downtuning" or whatever, which is lowering ALL strings the same amount. Most common example of this is tuning down half a step. Among many others, Jimi Hendrix is one who did this a lot. Basicly, you take standard tuning (EADGBE) and lower ALL strings half a tone so you get Eb,Ab,Db,Gb,Bb,Eb.

As for modes, try this link. It's all pretty understandable in my eyes, but for the essence, stick to page 3 and 4. These explain the relative modes (the modes you get by taking a different "tonal center" of the same scale each time) and parallel modes (the different modes used on a same "root note") and the way they are constructed in a pretty straightforward manner. Hope that helps

[Shady Starlight]

Thanks all, really helpful replies.
But I didn't see anything 'bout diminished chords, what chords are those?
I know how to "build" chords, so if someone could explain diminished chords in that way I'd be very grateful
Also how to write it out... I mean as E/Em/E7... how are the diminished chords written out?

[allthumbs]

You make a diminished chord by flattening the 3rd and 5th of the chord. A great passing chord similar to the function of an augmented chord. Here is a link for you.
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/f/...s/lesson24.htm

[MontanaSlim]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

You make a diminished chord by flattening the 3rd and 5th of the chord. A great passing chord similar to the function of an augmented chord. Here is a link for you.
http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/f/...s/lesson24.htm

I very rarely see diminished chords in tabs. Except for christmas carols.

[USGold]

If you flatten the third isn't it a second?

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by MontanaSlim

I very rarely see diminished chords in tabs. Except for christmas carols.

More common in jazz.

[Donovan]

Originally Posted by USGold

If you flatten the third isn't it a second?

allthumbs meant flatting the 3rd and 5th of Major chord, so you get a 1,b3,b5 for the regular dim chord. Also the dim7 chord actually contains a 6, but that's because it's derived from a b7 and is actually notated as bb7 (double flat). I like these chords, cool dark sound and great to use when changing keys and as passing chords as mentioned before. Also the arpeggio shape is easy as hell and is pretty neat

Dim7 Arpeggio

|----------------------------6--9-|
|-------------------------8-------|
|-------------------6--9----------|
|-------------5--8----------------|
|-------4--7----------------------|
|-3--6----------------------------|


Basicly, each following note in the dim7 chord is a b3 apart from the last, so it's a perfectly symmetrical chord, hence it's usefulness

[USGold]

Thanks--actually in my playing i use quite a few flatted thirds but rarely have i tried a flatted third and seventh together-sounds like finger contortions-perhaps since I am not holding me stick or looking at it diagrammed-it seems harder than it actually is.

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by USGold

If you flatten the third isn't it a second?

No. There is a tone between 2 and 3 so a b is a 1/2 tone . Think of it as 2 1/2 LOL.

[scotty_b]

If you flatten the 3rd it would become a minor 3rd

[BimboRat]

E -------------------------------
B -------------------------------
G -------------------------------
D -------------------------------
A -------------------------------
E -------------------------------

becomes:

E -------------------------------
B -------------------------------
G -------------------------------
D -------------------------------
A -------------------------------
D -------------------------------

[scotty_b]

Originally Posted by MontanaSlim

I very rarely see diminished chords in tabs. Except for christmas carols.

The Chili Peppers tune 'Road Tripping' has a dimished chord movement at the end of the instrumental section