Current Events > Are all basic piano chords 2 whole steps followed by a step and a half?

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An_Actual_Chad
02/22/20 4:49:05 PM
#1:


That's the trend I've noticed so far. Like B minor for example, I start with the B minor key. I take 2 whole steps to a D major, then a step and a half to an F major.

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Anteaterking
02/22/20 4:58:11 PM
#2:


I'm not sure what you mean. A B minor chord is B,D,F#, but those individual notes aren't "D Major" and "F# Major".

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SiO4
02/22/20 5:00:47 PM
#3:


Is Piano your first instrument.
I'm curious because you are using the terms, minor and major keys...rather then notes.

Also, yes, just off the top of my head the pattern in Whole step, whole step, and a Step and a half.
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An_Actual_Chad
02/22/20 5:07:03 PM
#4:


Anteaterking posted...
I'm not sure what you mean. A B minor chord is B,D,F#, but those individual notes aren't "D Major" and "F# Major".
You're right, I'm misusing "major."

B minor should be B minor, D, and F, though, shouldn't it?

SiO4 posted...
Is Piano your first instrument
Most efficient answer is yes.

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Smashingpmkns
02/22/20 5:08:32 PM
#5:


B minor is B, D, F sharp
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Romes187
02/22/20 5:11:39 PM
#6:


Learn the major chords first and the notes in them

then you just tweak each note (lower 3rd, or low 3rd and 5th, add a 9th, etc)

might not really be the best way to learn but it helped me and with piano it lets you learn the major fingering then adjust one or two fingers

*i am no piano expert and likely learned wrong
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An_Actual_Chad
02/22/20 5:14:16 PM
#7:


Smashingpmkns posted...
B minor is B, D, F sharp
That's whack, yo. I just happened to choose an exception for this topic. All the other chords I've looked up have started with their respective note.

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Smashingpmkns
02/22/20 5:18:31 PM
#8:


An_Actual_Chad posted...
Smashingpmkns posted...
B minor is B, D, F sharp
That's whack, yo. I just happened to choose an exception for this topic. All the other chords I've looked up have started with their respective note.


Minor doesn't mean flat btw
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An_Actual_Chad
02/22/20 5:19:09 PM
#9:


Smashingpmkns posted...
Minor doesn't mean flat btw
Shit. I'm drunk. Seriously.

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SiO4
02/22/20 5:20:32 PM
#10:


Smashingpmkns posted...


Minor doesn't mean flat btw


At best it could mean diminished.

TC: Just learn scales and take it from there.
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Smashingpmkns
02/22/20 5:22:15 PM
#11:


SiO4 posted...
Smashingpmkns posted...


Minor doesn't mean flat btw


At best it could mean diminished.

TC: Just learn scales and take it from there.


I think he was just confusing sharp with major and flat with minor which is very common with newer players. Should be a lot more clear now
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averagejoel
02/22/20 5:22:36 PM
#12:


in order to effectively learn theory like this, you need to:

  1. know all your major scales. to the point that you don't have to think about them
  2. be able to think of your major scales in terms of scale degrees; i.e. replacing the note names with numbers (for example, in the C Major scale, C is I, D is II, E is III, F is IV, G is V, A is VI, B is VII)
  3. know the various intervals (e.g. C up to G is a Perfect Fifth; C to E is a Major Third)
once you do that, you're ready to start learning some heavier stuff

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Anteaterking
02/22/20 5:25:21 PM
#13:


So the best way to think of it isn't "All basic piano chords are 2 whole steps followed by 1.5 steps".

The fact that it's 2 whole steps followed by 1.5 steps is what makes it an e.g. B major chord as opposed to a different type of B chord. But if you take those three notes (B,D#,F#) and rearrange them, you're still playing a B major chord, it's just in a different inversion.

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An_Actual_Chad
02/22/20 5:28:17 PM
#14:


To all the people saying I need to learn scales first, I already know you're correct, and I have been watching a 71-video youtube series of a University professor teaching music theory. Taking notes as well. So far he's taught me about the circle of fifths and whatnot. Great stuff.

Right now I'm just kind of fooling around for funsies, tho.

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SiO4
02/22/20 5:28:26 PM
#15:


Smashingpmkns posted...


I think he was just confusing sharp with major and flat with minor which is very common with newer players. Should be a lot more clear now


No, for sure...I see what he's doing. Not even being a hater.
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An_Actual_Chad
02/23/20 12:24:04 AM
#16:


SiO4 posted...
No, for sure...I see what he's doing. Not even being a hater.
But I was correct that say, a B flat starts with the B flat note, and that all the basic chords begin this way?

How does this work for C flat and E sharp? Is there any accuracy in calling a D an E flat flat, as far as music theory goes? Would a B# chord be the same as a C chord, or are they only treated the same when they are individual notes?


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kirbymuncher
02/23/20 12:34:07 AM
#17:


An_Actual_Chad posted...
Would a B# chord be the same as a C chord, or are they only treated the same when they are individual notes?

Well, a C major chord would be C-E-G and a B# Major Chord would be B#, D double sharp, F double sharp. They'd sound the same but have a different name because that's just how these things work. But I will say that if you ever see a B# major chord I recommend you immediately burn your sheet music

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An_Actual_Chad
02/23/20 12:45:56 AM
#18:


kirbymuncher posted...
Well, a C major chord would be C-E-G and a B# Major Chord would be B#, D double sharp, F double sharp. They'd sound the same but have a different name because that's just how these things work. But I will say that if you ever see a B# major chord I recommend you immediately burn your sheet music
They sound the same, and they're the same notes on the piano, right?

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SiO4
02/23/20 1:05:26 AM
#19:


kirbymuncher posted...

Well, a C major chord would be C-E-G and a B# Major Chord would be B#, D double sharp, F double sharp. They'd sound the same but have a different name because that's just how these things work. But I will say that if you ever see a B# major chord I recommend you immediately burn your sheet music


I am not sure what he's on about. The B Major Chord, is B, D#, F#.
I'm not sure what he's talking about with the double sharps.

A B minor chord is B, D, F#, which reflects its relative major, The scale of D.
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DevsBro
02/23/20 1:21:52 AM
#20:


I guess it depends on what you mean by "basic", but...

A major triad is a major third with a minor third on top.
A minor triad is a minor third with a major third on top.

Buuuuuuut...

A half diminished is a minor third with a minor third on top.
An augmented is a major third with a major third on top.
A major 7 is a major third with a minor third on top, with a major third on top.
A sus4 is a perfect 4th with a major 2nd on top.

kirbymuncher posted...
Well, a C major chord would be C-E-G and a B# Major Chord would be B#, D double sharp, F double sharp. They'd sound the same but have a different name because that's just how these things work. But I will say that if you ever see a B# major chord I recommend you immediately burn your sheet music
It may sound pedantic, but it's definitely not trivial when you look into certain keys or modes. For example, in the key of C major, if you see an F#, we're borrowing from Lydian, which is a brighter sound, but if you see a Gb, we're borrowing from Locrian, which is a way darker sound.

I could see a B# major chord happening if we were, for example, in the key of F# major and we borrow from Lydian. Of course, that's a pretty specific case you're not going to see often. Or another example without even using modal mixture might be the VII chord in C# Harmonic Minor. Of course, to your point, if the composer wrote the piece in C# Harmonic Minor, yes, it probably needs to be destroyed.

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kirbymuncher
02/23/20 8:46:02 AM
#21:


SiO4 posted...
The B Major Chord, is B, D#, F#.
I'm not sure what he's talking about with the double sharps.
he asked about a B# major chord, not a B major chord

to be fair maybe he didn't mean to ask about that, but he did

An_Actual_Chad posted...
They sound the same, and they're the same notes on the piano, right?
yes

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SiO4
02/23/20 8:10:37 PM
#22:


kirbymuncher posted...

he asked about a B# major chord, not a B major chord

to be fair maybe he didn't mean to ask about that, but he did

yes


Ya, I realize that. I borderline wonder if he trolling at this point.

Either way I'd advise him or anyone to pick up Walter Pistons book on the matter.
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An_Actual_Chad
02/23/20 9:24:31 PM
#23:


I have trolled none. I legit got minors and flats mixed up.

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SiO4
02/23/20 10:39:27 PM
#24:


An_Actual_Chad posted...
I have trolled none. I legit got minors and flats mixed up.


I get that. But most people in most cases never talk about a B Sharp chord.
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