CHORDS N COOKIES FOR ENQUIRING MINDS HOW THEY STACK UP. Jeff Veteto. June 16, 2017

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1 CHORDS N COOKIES FOR ENQUIRING MINDS HOW THEY STACK UP Jeff Veteto June 16, 2017 Think about how big things are built upon smaller things (atoms, for example). Songs work the same way! Songs are made of phrases, which are made of chords, which are made of notes. So we will start with notes.but today we are only going as far as chords! ABSOLUTE Scale Tones NOTES RELATIVE Numbers Solfeggio C 1 = 8 Do B 7 Ti A 6 La G 5 Sol F 4 Fa E 3 Mi D 2 Re C 1 Do Consider the portability of the Relative scales (perfect for a cappella), but the need for absolute scale tones as well. Next: Let s get comfortable with the concept of EVERY OTHER.every other letter, every other number and we will see how that helps us build chords. Intervals: (H L) + 1 = Interval Let s run a few examples. Example 1: Do to Mi is (3-1) + 1 = 3 rd Example 2: Do to Sol is (5 1) +1 = 5 th Example 3: Mi to Sol is (5 3) + 1 = 3 rd (.hang on.) 1

2 Big Question: Is Example 1 the same as Example 3? We will sing the answer to that question. Which brings us to the subject of the day: THIRDS Major and Minor We will need some teaching aids for this. CHORDS 'N COOKIES HOW THEY STACK UP Oreo COOKIES INTERVALS Minor Third (Something is missing in each) Double Stuff Oreo (Are they both Oreo's?) (Are they different) Major Third (Are they both 3rd's?) (Are they different?) Now stack them Fat one on bottom Major 3rd on bottom Okay! Major Chord Flip them Okay! Minor 3rd on bottom Minor Chord Same height Compare Perfect Fifth Caveat: The thickness of the dark part doesn t count (top of one = bottom of the other). It s the filling that counts (which represents the Interval)! Let s define Perfect Fifth: Major 3 rd + Minor 3 rd = 5 th Minor 3 rd + Major 3 rd = 5 th.and both those 5 th s are the same, so.perfect! But wait! There s more! How many in your quartet? Yup we need to add another Oreo to get a four part chord! 2

3 Not to get too deep here, but it isn t just 3 rd s that come in Major and Minor varieties. In our business, especially, we like to talk about Major and Minor 7 th intervals as well. Look at what happens on the white keys if we play every other note: White Key Chord Type of 3rd Type of 5th Type of 7th What we call it C C-E-G-B M P M Major 7th B B-D-F-A m Diminished m 1/2 Diminished A A-C-E-G m P m Minor 7th G G-B-D-F M P m Barbershop 7th F F-A-C-E M P M Major 7th E E-G-B-D m P m Minor 7th D D-F-A-C m P m Minor 7th C C-E-G-B M P M Major 7th Not every chord has: 1 (root) ; We see triads (with octaves), and some odd stuff, like 9ths and 6ths But.every 7 th chord is built on 3rds 2 kinds of thirds: Major and Minor 3rds. Pause for deep breath Next concept: The same chord can be VOICED different ways. Let s go back to that Every Other concept one more time. This time let s look at the letters: ACEG BDFA CEGB and so on. If you have a G chord, say, does that mean that G (the root) is always on the bottom of the chord? Nope. (How many times have you heard, Basses mostly sing roots and fifths?) Two common examples: 1) The V7 chord, like you hear on TO-morrow s another day And a hundred other songs. 2) The Chinese 7 th (named after Chopsticks fame). Tenor and lead on root and 7 3

4 How Chords Lead to Chords For this, we will just use two kinds of chords: Triads, and Barbershop 7ths DOMINANT (V) CHORD SCALE CHORD 1 7 of scale = 3rd of chord 6 5 of scale = 1 (root) of chord 4 of scale = 7th of chord 3 2 of scale = 5th of chord 1 7 of scale = 3rd of chord 6 5 of scale = 1 (root) of chord Let s use this on a familiar song. "To- morrow's." Key Chord Key Chord Tenor 7 A 3rd 1 Bb Root Lead 5 F Root 3 D 3rd Bari 4 Eb 7b 5 F 5th Bass 2 C 5th 1 Bb Root And we can build that Barbershop 7 th on ANY tone of the scale!.and our ears will naturally take us on a path home. And No One could explain it better than the inimitable Dave Stevens (you can even follow along on the chart on the next page.) 4

5 CHORDS 'N COOKIES 6/17/2016 DAVE STEVENS SINGS THE CIRCLE OF FIFTHS SCALE "After dark, when Everything is still, And " B 7 3 A 6 G F 4 7 E D 2 5 SCALE "Goodbye my Coney Island Baby, Farewell, my own true love." C B 7 3 A 6 5 G F 4 3 (F#) 7 E D SCALE "If I had my way, Dear, for- ever there'd be, a garden " C (C#) 7 1 B 7 3 A G F 4 3 (F#) 7 E D SCALE "Five foot two, eyes of blue, Oh what those 5' could do, has anybody seen my gal?" C (C#) 7 1 B A G (G#) F 4 3 (F#) 7 E D

6 Think of the old rotary dial phones.same idea! 6

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