Many musicians understand why major chords evoke feelings of joy while minor chords seem more melancholic – the answer lies within intervals.
Intervals are the spaces between each note in a scale. An octave is usually considered the basic interval, while others exist too. Their relative sizes dictate whether a note sounds bright or dim.
Intervals
Intervals are fundamental components of chords and scales, making them an integral component of music theory. Intervals represent the gap between two notes in music that gives it its character; their qualities vary depending on which notes are played in succession, giving a particular sound quality or feeling to it all. Intervals can either be melodic, where individual notes sound in sequence over an interval; or harmonic, like chords and scales.
Major intervals are among the most essential ones to learn, since they form all major chords and contribute their bright, lively sound to major scales.
As soon as you play any melodies or riffs or licks on guitar, melodic intervals come into play. An example is the Perfect 4th interval, an interval one fret or semitone higher than a major third that can be found in Pearl Jam’s “Even Flow,” as well as Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Its opening melody uses this interval while Pearl Jam used this same interval during their “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Additionally known by other names like an “augmented or diminished fourth”
Scales
First thing any new guitarist must learn are major scales. Though practicing scales might not sound exciting, doing so can pay huge dividends when playing guitar in the future. Major scales form the core of western music and will help guide chord progressions and improvisation.
Playing a major chord consists of three notes from its associated scale’s 1st, 3rd and 5th notes; these notes make up what is known as a triad, creating what some refer to as a happy sounding chord.
As you progress through the major scale pattern, it’s essential to note that each position connects to its predecessor via root note intervals – for instance, position 3 has two root notes which connect back to position 1 via frets 4 and 5. This ensures you can reuse this pattern anywhere on the fretboard.
Keys
When playing chords in a major key, they sound different than when played in minor keys. This difference stems from how different scale patterns create distinct feelings; for instance, music played in C major seems happier than songs played in B minor keys.
In major keys, it is possible to create triads on all scale degrees. Triads built on the first, fourth and fifth scale degrees will all produce major chords; those constructed using second, third and sixth scale degrees will yield minor chords.
The minor scale is composed of intervals derived from those found in the major scale, with one exception: B is considered a diminished chord because its higher note only rises two semitones from its root position compared with all of the other notes in the minor scale that move up seven semitones from their root position.
Mood
Understand how chords can create different atmospheres is essential when working with major chords.
Other than standard major triads, there are various other types of major chords you can incorporate into your music. Common examples are major seventh chords – which sound like C-E-G-B. Another option is major ninth (commonly abbreviated to “maj9”) which adds an extra note to its fifth note of a chord.
Chord extensions are an effective way to add emotion to your music. These chords consist of adding either a seventh or ninth interval to an otherwise standard major triad chord. Although chord extensions are most frequently found in jazz songs, they can also be applied across genres.
Studies have demonstrated that major chords can evoke positive emotions while minor chords can evoke negative ones; yet it is essential to remember that how one feels from listening or playing any particular chord depends on its context of use.