Triad
Chord9 linksA three-note chord built by stacking two thirds; has a root, a 3rd and a 5th.
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←builds
- ←made of
- ←is first inversion of
- ←is second inversion of
- ←plays tones of
Notes
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Relational view · your concept web
Harmony, as a web of concepts
34 concepts · 61 relations. Each concept carries its own connections, so you read one idea at a time and jump along the links. Add more text below and it merges in.
Interval
Concept10 linksDistance between two notes, described by both a number and a size at the same time.
- →described by
- →described by
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←is a
- ←structured by
Notes
Key / tonality
Concept6 linksA system that tells you which chords belong together and which don't.
- →built on
- →determines
- ←is a kind of
- ←is a kind of
- ←changes
- ←relates
Notes
Major third
Interval5 linksAn interval of 4 semitones.
- →is a
- →measured in
- ←built from
- ←built from
- ←built from
Notes
Minor third
Interval5 linksAn interval of 3 semitones.
- →is a
- →measured in
- ←built from
- ←built from
- ←built from
Notes
Thinking in numbers
Technique5 linksTreating a progression as numbers, so you can predict, transpose and modulate it.
- →enables
- →enables
- ←expressed as
- ←demonstrates
- ←demonstrates
Notes
Chord progression
Concept6 linksA sequence of chords, which can be thought of purely as degree numbers.
- →made of
- →expressed as
- ←determines
- ←reuses
- ←uses
- ←uses
Notes
Scale degree
Concept5 linksA note's ordinal position in the scale; each degree builds its own triad.
- →belongs to
- →builds
- ←built from
- ←built from
- ←bridges
Notes
Sixth chord
Chord4 linksFirst inversion of a triad — the 3rd is in the bass.
- →is first inversion of
- ←produces
- ←is a
- ←demonstrates
Notes
Scale
Concept3 linksA sequence of notes whose interval structure decides which chords can form.
- →structured by
- ←built on
- ←belongs to
Notes
Transposition
Technique3 linksPlaying the same progression starting in a different key.
- →reuses
- ←enables
- ←demonstrates
Notes
Semitone
Concept8 linksThe smallest distance between two adjacent keys — the basic unit for measuring intervals.
- →measures
- ←measured in
- ←measured in
- ←measured in
- ←measured in
- ←measured in
- ←measured in
- ←found via
Notes
Inversion
Technique4 linksMoving a chord tone up or down so a different tone sits in the bass.
- Notes Homework: get comfortable inverting each scale degree and practice playing all three positions (root, sixth chord, six-four).
- →produces
- →produces
- →improves
- →improves
Notes
Interval size
Concept2 linksAn interval measured in tones and semitones.
- ←measures
- ←described by
Notes
Modulation
Technique2 linksMoving from one key to another.
- →changes
- ←enables
Notes
Relative key
Concept2 linksA 'clone' key with the same notes and chords; shift the tonic 3 semitones to swap major↔minor.
- →relates
- →found via
Notes
Interval number
Concept1 linksAn interval counted by letter names — E to C spans six letters, so it's a 6th.
- ←described by
Notes
Voice leading
Concept1 linksSmooth movement between chords with the least hand motion.
- ←improves
Notes
Diminished triad
Chord5 linksTwo stacked minor thirds.
- →built from
- →is a
- ←contains
- ←contains
- ←derived from
Notes
Arpeggio
Technique2 linksPlaying a chord's tones one at a time in a pattern; sounds best in inversions.
- →plays tones of
- ←improves
Notes
Perfect fifth
Interval2 links7 semitones — the top note (the 5th) of a basic triad.
- →is a
- →measured in
Notes
Perfect fourth
Interval2 linksAn interval of 5 semitones.
- →is a
- →measured in
Notes
Second
Interval2 linksMinor second is 1 semitone, major second is 2.
- →is a
- →measured in
Notes
Six-four chord
Chord2 linksSecond inversion of a triad.
- →is second inversion of
- ←produces
Notes
Tritone
Interval2 links6 semitones — the augmented 4th / diminished 5th.
- →is a
- →measured in
Notes
Unison (prima)
Interval1 linksThe same note — a zero-distance interval.
- →is a
Notes
Major key pattern
Concept3 linksChord qualities of a major key by degree: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°.
- →is a kind of
- →built from
- →contains
Notes
Minor key pattern
Concept3 linksChord qualities of a minor key by degree: i, ii°, III, iv, v, VI, VII.
- →is a kind of
- →built from
- →contains
Notes
Passing sixth chord
Technique3 linksA sixth chord used as a bridge between two scale degrees; supporting, not independent.
- →is a
- →bridges
- →derived from
Notes
Augmented triad
Chord2 linksTwo stacked major thirds.
- →built from
- →is a
Notes
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Example2 linksA 1–4–3–6 progression in A minor.
- →demonstrates
- →uses
Notes
Major triad
Chord3 linksA major third on the bottom, a minor third on top.
- →built from
- →built from
- →is a
Notes
Minor triad
Chord3 linksA minor third on the bottom, a major third on top.
- →built from
- →built from
- →is a
Notes
Stand By Me
Example4 linksA 1–6–4–5 progression shown with sixth chords; the same numbers work in A major and in C major.
- →demonstrates
- →demonstrates
- →demonstrates
- →uses
Notes