Chords

[John Bertotti]

Question? Are there a set of rules for the creation of chords? For instance if you wanted a C chord how would you know or what rules would you follow to create such a chord if you didn't just memorize it from a chart?
I'm very new to this music theory stuff and may not understand the replies but feel free to be as complicated as you want. I'll print it out and save it till I can understand it. Thanks all my thoughts are knowing the whys will help me understand the outcomes better. John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Tom C]

There is lots of info on the internet that would be an easy search. First you would have to understand what notes make up a scale. Just a quick search I found this page
chord theory (http://www.midimusicofjohnbloise.com/chord_theory.htm).
<span style='color:purple'>If you have questions after reading this, We're are all happy to help.</span>

[WaywardFiddler]

I like this book:
Contemporary Music Theory - Harrison (http://www.harrisonmusic.com/book/theorybook.html)
-dave

[John Bertotti]

Tom thanks I didn't even think of doing a search. My natural inclination was to go to the source of information I use the most. Ie.. the cafe. Thanks for the link, I just skimmed through it and already have a question. Looking at the first chart and formula I think I see that anything using more than four notes isn't really an option on the mandolin. This is the diminished chords are as far as we could go considering we have four open strings and four fingers. I would also think that because of our physical limitations some four note combinations would be out of the question. I hope I have this right so far. Thanks for the link John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Dave interesting looking book I may have to check it out. John

[Dfyngravity]

Making chords, well chords are formed mainly around I, III, and V. Which means the 1st, the 3rd, and the 5th of the scale of the chord your are trying to make. So if you wanted a C the scale would be C,d,E,f,G,a,b,c[B]. So the notes in a C chord are C,E, and G. Since there are only 4 sets of strings on a mandolin(GDAE), a lot of times you won't find all the notes in chords. For instance, just using the I and III or the I and V in chords. Now if you want a minor chord, all you do is flatten the III. So a Cm would be C, Eb, G. If you want a C7, you add a flattened VII and if you want a major 7th(Cmaj7) you just add the VII(C,E,G,B). Deminished chords are made by flattening the III and the V(Cdim-&gt;C,Eb,Gb). Then you get into all of the 9th and 13ths and other chords along those lines. Unless you are playing jazz I wouldn't worry to much about those. I hope this helps a little.

[Dfyngravity]

When you have chords that use four notes..ie C7, Cmaj7 and so on just use like I, III and the VII(flat VII). So a C7 would be C,E,Bb. Or you could do the I, V,VII C7--&#62; C,G,Bb.

[Tom C]

That's right. When making a 7th. You are adding the flatted 7th to the 1,3,5 (4 notes) Making a 9th you need
more strings so you need to pick and choose the best notes.
In your example for diminished, there is one pattern (which is a tough one) that can be moved all around. The best part is, there are 4 different dimished chords in the same position and shape. ex:
If you go to cafe chords and search on a Ddim. Using this pattern there is one D (on the A string). This same thing is also a Bdim, Fdim, AbDim. I hope I did not confuse you.

[jamman]

This site illustrates a lot of theory on chords and more. #-Flash based
http://www.musictheory.net/

A little more advanced concept the chord is formed by the various notes playing together. If you had enough mandolins, each player could play only one note and together you'd form the chord. That is an extreme example but the principle applies with just guitar/mandolin.

[John Bertotti]

I get it, you can accomplish VII, IX, AND XIII. Pick the notes that color the chord the best for your purpose. With different positions you could even play the same 1st position chord in another position. I haven't learned the fret board very well yet but am working on it. After I digest this information I'll be trying to write the chords in standard notation. I figure this will be a good exercise and help with learning this language.

You have all actually helped immensely. I have checked out the tabbed chords here. I just wanted a better understanding of why the notes were chosen and that has been answered excellently. I wanted to know the whys then try writing some on my own and compare them to printed notes here before I memorized them. I think that if I understand the concept of creation the remembering will be much easier. Thanks All John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[ShaneJ]

Check out the software at www.chordwizard.com (http://www.chordwizard.com/)

It's a great program for chords, scales, theory, etc. and can be customized for any stringed instrument in any tuning.

[duuuude]

I had read somewhere about the order of importance when choosing which notes to sound, wish I could remember it all but pretty sure it was III (to tell major or minor), V (to add body & structure), VII, all the color notes (IX, XII, etc.), then I (last because it's either covered already elsewhere, or the ear will unconciously fill it in).

Someone please correct me if I got it out of order.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[Ted Eschliman]

Probably more than you want, but extended chord economics (http://members.aol.com/teesch/Economics.html)...

[John Bertotti]

Thanks again all. Ted it will take me a bit to absorb a fraction of what is on your link. I still think since it is all mostly new to me this would be the time to dig deeper. Learn it all from the start so to speak. By the way what do the little ii mean. John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[Ted Eschliman]

The eight tones of the Western (European) Scale are commonly designated by Roman Numerals:
Chords based on a major scale ('triad' or three-note chords):
I #ii #iii #IV #V #vi #vii #and back to I (not VIII)
The small case (ii, iii, vi) are used when the chord is a minor chord, the Capital (I, IV, V) when it's a major chord. (I won't go into the exception of the diminished vii chord, too much information...)
The "ii" tells us it's the second scale degree, and since it's lower case, it reminds us that the chord will be minor.

[John Bertotti]

Thanks I don't smoke but at the moment there is a lot billowing from my ears. HAHA I love data dumps! dumps! dumps! (twitching away here and lovin it) John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

fell free to over load this post its going to be a great one to save in my binder. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif