Theory 101

Introduction to Music Theory and Chords

I'm going to give you a short introduction to music theory as preparation for discussing chords and how they're put together. It's not rocket science, but let's start off with a little bit of physics, just because it's important to understand that what we're dealing with is a vibrating string.

The Basics of a Guitar

A guitar fundamentally is:

• A vibrating string on a wooden box.

Dividing the String

If you take that string and divide it in two, you're essentially dividing it in half. You can accomplish the same thing with a harmonic by touching the string exactly above the 12th fret. The note that you sound there and the note that you play are the same note with different tone qualities:

• Two halves of a string vibrating freely vs. a fretted string.

Understanding Octaves

When you divide the string, you get an octave, same note, but an octave higher. The vibration is double what it starts off as.

• Fundamental: The original note.
• Octave: The same note, an octave higher.

If I continue to divide the string, I get:

• A note corresponding to a B.
• A note corresponding to an E.

E Scale and Triads

You'll notice that by dividing the string, I get:

• An open string corresponding to an E.
• An octave corresponding to the same note, an octave higher.

When I play an E chord, the notes I use are:

• Root (E)
• Fifth (B)
• Octave (E)
• Third (G#)

This gives us a very open sound.

The Scale of E

Here's a quick breakdown of the scale:

1. Root (E)
2. Second
3. Third (G#)
4. Fourth
5. Fifth (B)
6. Sixth
7. Seventh
8. Octave (E)

If you play these notes in different combinations, you discover harmonies:

• Root + Third creates harmony.
• Root + Fifth also creates a familiar sound.

Exploring Intervals

Now, exploring other intervals:

• Using Fourths:
  • The fourth of an E scale is A.
• Using Fifths:
  • The fifth provides a very open sound but does not define the character of a chord.

Dissonance in Music

When you reach the seventh degree, it introduces dissonance:

• In C major, if I include the seventh, you get a dissonant sound.
• But when you lift your finger off, you get a pleasant C major 7.

Triads and Voicings

Returning to our E chord, we have:

• E, G#, and B, which form a triad.

There is nothing preventing the arrangement of these notes in different positions. This is what we call a voicing, changing the order of the notes while maintaining the same harmonic quality.

Fingerstyle Guitar Techniques

In fingerstyle, you can explore various voicings for different dynamics. For example:

• Playing a chord here provides a different sonic quality than playing it elsewhere.

Harmonic Degrees

Recap on the degrees of the E scale:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

When you stack the notes:

• You get different triads, such as in an A chord.

Adding Notes to Chords

As we build from triads, we can add:

• A sixth or a seventh (which leads to familiar sounds).

When it comes to seventh chords:

• A major seventh (keeping it natural) vs. a flattened seventh (creating a minor seventh sound).

The Relationship between Chords

An E7 chord, which is an E chord with a flattened seventh:

• Leads us naturally to an A chord.

Conclusion

In this lesson, you've learned:

• The fundamental physics of vibrating strings.
• The basic structure of chords.
• How to explore dissonance and consonance through voicings and extensions.

This lays a strong foundation for understanding how these relationships work in music, preparing you for deeper exploration into effective chord progressions and fingerstyle techniques.