Lesson 11: *White Note Thirds - The secret to creating all y

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Lesson 11: *White Note Thirds

OK, in lesson 10, we discussed intervals. *So, you should know that when we discuss a 3rd, we're talking about two notes, such as a C and an E or a G and a B.

The white note thirds is a little device to help you.

CEGBDFAC

all of these notes are a third from each other.
only a 3rd from C, F and G are major, the rest are minor.
What this means is, you can automatically tell me what a minor third from F is. *It's A. *How did I know that? *Because it's the next letter in the sequence. *Also notice that if you skip every other note, you have fifths.
all the fifths are perfect except for B to F which is diminished. *So if I ask you, what's a perfect 5th above C, you skip one letter and say "G". *The only time the 5th is not perfect is in the case of B.

So, by using this little device we can find 3rds and 5ths, which means we can also spell out triads with it.
what's a C major triad? *A root, a major third and a perfect fifth.

well, here's our device again: C E G B D F A C
C to E is a major third
C to G is a perfect fifth
so a C Major triad is C E G

How about E Major triad?
E to G is minor third, so a major third is G#
E to B is a perfect fifth
so E Major triad is spelled E G# B

and of course, if you wanted Eb, you'd just flat each note, so the Eb Major triad is Eb, G, Bb

Practice Practice Practice!