Anoter Simple Question..

[cozimnot]

Hi,

When playing triads, do you only play one of each notes? I think that you would, because if you played one of each note and the root on top of it, you would be doubling the root. Im not quite sure though.

also, how would you invert 'normal' chords, which have doubled notes in them? If the notes were say, C E E C G, would the first inversion be E E C G C and so on?

Thanks.

[jesus]

Hi, a triad consists of the root, the third (major or minor) and
the fith (perfect, augmented or diminished). When you play
a triad fundamental, the root must be the lowest note, that is the bass note. Of course you can repit any note of the triad.
The inversion of a triad is made by playing the third (1st inversion) or the fith (2nd inversion) in the bass, regardelss of the
other notes. The position of the remainder notes of the triad can change making a different chord "disposition", but it doesn't change the chord cualification, that is determined by the bass note.

Thus, a normal barre G chord on the third fret is a triad with
some notes repited: root fith root third fith and root.

[Guni]

LOL jesus - we pretty much gave the same answer at the same time:-)

Doubling notes is a common technique to 'fatten up' a triad.

Inversions more or less only happen with the original 3 notes, which then can be embellished by adding octaves.

Just think of the A major triad in 5th position:

e string - A
b string - E
g string - C#
d string - A
a string - E
E string - A

so we have 3 As in there and 2 Es - 1 C#

this chord also includes all three inversions

e string - A
b string - E
g string - C#
= 1st inversion

b string - E
g string - C#
d string - A
= root position

g string - C#
d string - A
a string - E
= 2nd inversion

Guni

[cozimnot]

thanks a lot

Oh yeah, another question on intervals. I don't see how you can tell a note's interval to the root note without know the root note itself. ie, a 'c' can be any interval, if you dont know the root. Does this mean that you can only name the intervals if you hear the two notes together, or played one after eachother? thanks.

[Bongo Boy]

Interpreting 'interval' to mean distance, then yes, although the distance between a note and itself, referred to as a unison interval, is a formal defintion as well.

But I don't think the concept of an interval requires the concept of a root...in other words, an interval is defined for any two notes, regardless of the roles those notes play in any other construct. To me, anyway, 'root' is a 'role' that a particular note plays in a particular context.

Anyway, no, it makes no sense to refer to some single note and its 'interval'. Intervals only exist in the context of two notes. If you read something where it appears otherwise, then I'd say there is some context the author set up earlier that simply may not be all that obvious--say the first degree of a scale or the root of a chord, as examples.

Does this mean that you can only name the intervals if you hear [see] the two notes together, or played [written] one after each other?

My answer is "Yes".

[cozimnot]

oh ok, thanks a lot