MTDC Theory Class I
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MTDC Theory Class I
MTDC:
2 - 6p.m.
Saturdays
Mr Benjamin Yeo:
benictus@yahoo.com.sg
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Sunday, October 25, 2009, 10/25/2009 01:05:00 PM
HELLO EVERYBODY :DI was confused of certain stuffs in class so i emailed mr yeo to clarify.
as he had requested, im posting up the questions and answers. :D
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Q1. If i wanna find the minor of Major C, it would be Minor A right? (cos its counting 3 semitones down right?)
Yes, the RELATIVE minor of C Major is A minor. Counting 3 semitones down basically applies when you want to find the relative key signature of Minor from Major. Similary, if you want to find the key signature of the MAJOR, you count 3 semitones UP from the minor (opp. direction).
Q2. I'm still not too sure how to change the chords from major to minor ....for example, how to change the chord "c,e,g" to minor?
I'm not exactly sure what you're asking here. Let me know if I've interpreted your question correctly:
Let's start with a triad (for e.g., in C-major) containing the notes - C-E-G [this is your C major triad - I'm not sure why you wrote C-D-E, these three notes you wrote do not form the C-major chord].
Picture the C-E-G on the stave.
Notice the interval between C-E at the bottom is a MAJOR 3rd interval?
Notice the interval between E-G at the top is a minor 3rd interval?
Therefore, a triad with such interval-characteristics gives you what we call a MAJOR triad (always take reference from the bottom interval).
Let's move on now to look at a minor triad -
I will use the example based on D (the second degree of the scale), thus the notes involved will be D-F-A.
Picture the D-F-A on the stave
Notice the interval between D-F at the bottom is a minor 3rd interval? [as opposed to the initial MAJOR 3rd interval we find in a major triad?]
Notice the interval between F-A at the top is a MAJOR 3rd interval?
Therefore, a triad with such interval-characteristics gives you what we call a minor triad (always take reference from the bottom interval).
Now that you know the characteristics of a MAJOR triad and a minor triad, plot out the triads using your C-major scale. Since I've already done C and D for you, you can try plotting triads from E onwards (i.e., E, F, G, A, B). For example, your E-triad will be made up of notes E-G-B, F triad will be made up of notes F-A-C. After plotting all the notes, I'd want you to figure out the interval of the bottom two notes and the top two notes like what I did previously and you decide for yourself the nature of that particular triad - whether is it major-ish or minor-ish.
When you're done, you will realise a very special case for B-triad. B-triad contains the notes B-D-F. You will realise the bottom interval is a minor-interval and the top interval is also minor! In such a case, this is a new characteristic that we discover of what we call a diminished triad.
When you are done with plotting the whole set of notes, you will then discover that Chord I, IV and V are MAJOR TRIADS. We also call these chords PRIMARY CHORDS.
You will also discover Chord ii, iii, vi are minor triads. And lastly, not forgetting the special case of Chord viio which is a diminished triad. Take note of the BIG roman-numeral for MAJOR TRIADS and the small roman-numeral for minor, and diminished triads (with a small circle), they are different in order for us to recognise the nature of the triad!
DONE, YIKTIN :D
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