J2G

look man... i just want an answer, don't bash or attack. & i really don't give a shit if there's another thread on this.
i just got back from lifting and i wanna flex my tiny bit of theory knowledge so help me out.

1 - 3 - 5 chords... i can construct, they're coming to me and i'm liking how it's all getting more familiar.

now then,
1 - b3 - 5

1 - b3 - b5

1 - b3 - 5 - b7
wtf are the "b3, b5, b7"? i got my info off the internet and it doesn't really explain what exactly those are. and if you can... explain why "b" was put in front of the number. thanks.

dannydawiz

The numbers 1 3 and 5 are numbers referring to the degrees of the scale.

In the key of C Major (C D E F G A B)

1 3 5 is the equivalent to C E and G.

When you take a "b" and put it in front of a number (b3 for example) it just means that you're flatting the note which would make it C Eb G.

1 3 5 = Major Chord C E G
1 b3 5 = Minor Chord C Eb G
1 b3 b5 = Diminished Chord C Eb Gb
1 b3 5 b7 = Minor 7th Chord C Eb G Bb

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J2G

all i needed... thanks mate, gonna go experiment .

91RG350

One day when Im old... Im gonna tell my grandkids how once there was an amiable and helpful thread in MT.....

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Captaincranky

I'll try not to upset the helpfulness of this thread.

The "b3" interval, with respect to chords is also termed a "minor third", and is the equivalent of 3 semi tones (and as mentioned, it produces a minor chord).

A "Major 3rd" is a four semitone interval, from the "1" to "3", and it produces a major chord.

These intervals are determined by counting up the intervals of the major scale. (minor scales too, but we won't get into that for now).

One thing that you didn't ask, but perhaps should have is this, "does the 1, 3, 5 thing, apply to the other degrees of the scale"? Yes, absolutely.

Take the key of C major; C , D, E, F, G, A, B, & C (octave).

The 1, 3, 5 formula applies to every degree of the scale. Because of the tonal spacing of the major scale, different starting notes, will form different types of chords. (Major, minor, & diminished)

So, 1, 3, 5 ,starting on C, equals C, E, G, and that's a major chord.

If we start on the D note, we still form the chord with the 1, 3, 5 formula. (All it really is, is use a note, skip a note, use a note, skip a note, and use a note.

So, starting on D in C major, we get the notes D, F, A. D to F is only 3 semitones. So the chord on the second degree of the C major scale has a b3rd, and that makes it a minor chord. (A D major chord would be, D, F#, A).