I am slow to music theory. dispite playing guitar for ages, I have finally come to the point where I have questions.
theory can answer them.
when looking at a 7th, or 9th. or 11th, as in, let's say A7...E 9, or B11
do the numbers refer to the interval step from the root note?
I have done search here and at another forum, but havent seen this adressed.
Yes, to make it easier on yourself, a 9th interval has the same notes as a 2nd interval, the only difference being that they're an octave apart. A 13th note has the same note as a 6th, and the 11th note has the same as a 4th.
The 7th, 9th, 11th and 13th chords DO have more notes in them besides those notes however, for example:
A basic chord will have three notes: 1 3 5
A 7th will have: 1 3 5 7
9th will have: 1 3 5 7 9
11th will have: 1 3 5 7 9 11
13th will have: 1 3 5 7 9 11 13
In theory a 13th will have all the notes of the major scale, but in reality most of the time there will be less then that, because it could sound really muddy and most guitar players can't play 7 notes at once. Most of the time, the 5th and the root will be removed because a bass player or other accompanyment can play it.
Steve-0
steve o. thanks so much.
i will be able to sleep tonight.
actually, this is handy info as I have been into open tunings for awhile (hence the interest of how and why).
my pedal steel has ten strings tuned E 9. some chords are accomplished with interesting string raises and lowers.
you post really helps me to understand why and how those chords are constructed.
theory is pretty cool.
wow. nice post.
you guys are great at explaining this.
it makes sense. :D
What nobody sems to have mentioned is that it's ridiculously easy to work it all out in your head:
C to G
the notes are C, D, E, F, G
therefore the interval is a 5th. You count both the start and end notes.
C to Gb (F#) is a diminshed 5th or augmented 4th. So is C# to G
C to G# (Ab) is an augmented 5th or a diminshed 6th.
Let us know if it's still foggy.
Best,
A :-)
"Be good at what you can do" - Fingerbanger"
I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
Wedding music and guitar lessons in Essex. Listen at: http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk
it isnt foggy one bit.
it all falls together once you look at it and get great assistance from this site.
