The Music Theory Thing That SLOWS You DOWN [Music Theory For Guitar]

[@QplQyer]

Easiest way I found to remember chord notes is to memorize "FACE-GBD" to memorize the order of 3rds & to memorize the chord qualities from C major. Then you can easily construct the 7 chords in C major: Fmaj7 = FACE G7 = GBDF (found by starting from "G" and then constructing GBDFACE) Amin7 = ACEG etc. If you look at it from a scale perspective, the notes in FACE-GBD are 1 3 5 7 2 4 6 or 1 3 5 7 9 11 13. So this also makes it easy to add extensions, e.g. Fmaj9 = FACEG Fmaj#11 = FACEGB The last one is a bit harder because it requires you to know the modes of C major well enough to know that the B should be a natural B in this case as F lydian is contained in C major. But it is pretty easy once you memorize the mode formulas by heart (which you should anyway). Constructing chords with a root that is sharp or flat requires a bit more thinking power, but if you know the chord formulas it shouldn't be too hard: F#maj7 = F#A#C#E# - that's done by constructing FACE and sharpening everything. F#min7 = F#AC#E - that's done by mentally constructing F#A#C#E#, then flattening the 3rd and the 7th to get a min7 chord instead. With some practice you can flatten/sharpen things pretty on the fly.

[@sanjeevkeshary3032]

awesome comment. based on another comment in the memorizing fretboard video, i started that exercise by learning the notes in the order of FACEGBD. later learned that skipping every other note lead to the circle: BEADGCF, which i then just pictured the reverse as FCGDEAB. combined that with the incredible amount of digestible wisdom from this channel, and i feel like every day there is noticeable (despite small) progress :)

[@darrylboom5973]

Thank you! What an eye opener. To help learn the 5ths I just think of the V chord name in that Key, G for example in the key of C. I then count up two whole steps from the root to get the Maj 3rd. C to D to E. Result C E G. You can also go down a half step from the IV chord name to get the Mj 3rd... F to E in this case.

[@Mike-rw2nh]

Excellent lesson! Thanks. Quick mnemonic for learning triads: Every Good Band Deserves Fans And Cash - Ricky Comiskey

[@mattwhite399]

I agree, once you learn 7 natural note triads, it’s surprising how quickly you don’t even think about the notes of a chord. Personally, I chose to memorize the chord qualities of the C major scale.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

What is your mental process when you think about keys different than C?

[@mattwhite399]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar same as you suggest in this video! My reference chords are just the triads with all natural notes. So if you said “what are the notes in a D triad,” I would think D-F-A is Dm, raise the third: answer is D-F#-A. But, just like you mention in the video, it takes zero seconds. Once you memorize any 7 triads, it comes quick.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

I see. Interesting!

[@YEM_]

Interesting idea for sure. I watched all the way to the end and I like the idea of canceling the sharps / flats. I have two different ways of doing it. If the guitar is in my hand I just look down at my fretboard and I can see the shapes, then I name the notes. If the guitar is not in my hand and I don't feel like visualizing the fretboard (which I do sometimes), I just spell the alphabet, take every other letter, then add the sharps and flats. While this may be less efficient than what you are suggesting, any way you practice it becomes second nature after a while.

[@Chimp_No_1]

Incredibly interesting and helpful ! Thanks !

[@hazenclough4212]

I memorized it years ago by just saying every other letter over and over again. A C E G B D F, A C E G B D F, A C E G B D F, A C E G B D F. Say that over and over again daily for a few minutes a few times a day then you can build any chord super fast. Starting on B = B D F.. Starting on G = G B D... If you want 7ths or 9ths same thing..start on whatever letter and now that pattern is built into muscle memory. 7th on G = G B D F.. 9th on D = D F A C E.. etc etc You still have to do your homework in regards to sharps and flats. But for just the raw letters, this helps a shit ton! (I know this comment assumes you have some theory knowledge. But if you understand this, trust me, it will help!)

[@hazenclough4212]

You can find your 5ths in there easy as hell too! Once the pattern is built into memory you just skip a letter and there you go!

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Yes, you can go this way too

[@jacebastian7192]

Very cool system! I can see this working very well!

[@Acekorv]

Memorizing the triads is probably the best thing I ever done.

[@stanleysokolow]

I remember the Circle of Fifths by making a mental image. We all should easily remember the F C G at the top because those chords are used so often in the key of C. Then notice on the right side of them (clockwise as drawn in the video) you have the word "BEAD" spelled backwards "DAEB". These have sharps in their key signatures. On the left side you have the same notes BEAD but with flats: Bb Eb Ab Db. Then all that's remaining is the bottom note which is where the sharp side overlaps with the flat side, giving F# and Gb which of course are the same note with different (enharmonic) names. For the inner circle of minors, start by moving 3 notes clockwise from the top C, giving Am which is the relative minor of C major, then Em which is the relative minor of G major, and so on around the circle. So there isn't much unique information to remember, just FCG, BEAD, the bottom note Gb/F#, and the number 3 as the increment to shift around to get the minor circle.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

I imagine it as a clock, C at noon. The rest is similar to your idea.

[@stanleysokolow]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar In fact, I printed the Circle, cut it out, and glued it to the face of a clock that hangs on the wall in my dining area at home. When I have a question about chords and keys, I simply go to that clock without having to find the Circle in my notes or computer or Internet. It's handy that way.

[@christopherheckman7957]

@@stanleysokolow And when your family asks what time it is, do you say it's Ab after C o'clock?

[@stanleysokolow]

@@christopherheckman7957 I haven't done that yet, but it's a great idea!

[@VincentAicardiGuitare]

You made me realize I already know every 5th 😅😮

[@h4nd]

I do need to learn this properly. I usually just think of triads relative to the C major scale. E.g. If I want to know the notes in the B major triad: I know B diminished is B D F and so I need to raise the 3 and 5 a semitone: B D# F# It's a bit silly that I've stuck to this convoluted method instead of just learning each major triad.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Well... whatever works :)

[@mattwhite399]

Nah, I totally agree. This is how I happened to learn it (ages ago). Whatever works! as long as it’s quick, it doesn’t matter. Like typing on a keyboard - do you know anyone who actually types like they tried to teach us in school? :)

[@rswatzl3]

Genius, Tommaso.

[@bohnulus]

very cool approach

[@ianbearpig7]

Would it be just as easy to remember the intervals between the notes in the chord? Then all you need is the chromatic scale, put the root note where it goes, then count half steps to the next two notes? A minor triad would be root, 3 half step, 4 half step. Major is root, 4, 3. Then when getting into 7th chords etc just add the next interval to your chord?

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

You can do that too, of course. It's mathematically equivalent. The question is which system is faster/easier for a human brain. The majority, in my experience, find the system I describe in the video faster/easier if they train it a bit. But there ARE some people that find "chromatic algebra" (counting notes in the chromatic scale) faster or more natural.

[@christopherheckman7957]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Actually, arithmetic, not algebra.

[@christopherheckman7957]

What I do is along those lines: The third is always two letters alphabetically after the root, and the fifth is two letters alphabetically after that. Then I put the accidentals on afterwards, sometimes using the trick that Tommaso uses in the video (for instance, E G B -> E# G# B#).

[@ianbearpig7]

@@christopherheckman7957 I've been doing it my way for a while, then I come across other ways like in this video and wonder if I'm missing something. Glad it all gets us to the same conclusion on this one.

[@adrianbrome6652]

So Easy, Tomasso? Definitely, don't need a astronaut's brain to learn this concept. Thank you for sharing, Maestro.

[@zipperhead101]

Great, as usual! PS, that video you referenced at 6:10 ... well, there is no graphic where you are pointing to. Anyway, thanks again for the great content!

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Whooops, fixed

[@edwardisaacs3663]

I just have the triad letter groups memorized. CEG, DFA, EGB, FAC, GBD, ACE, BDF. Each of them has a sort of personality. Like, DFA sounds like it could be a government bureau. EGB sounds like it could be a famous writer's initials. The chords that are minor in C will need a sharp 3rd for their major. So, D, E, A, and B will get a sharp third. (This is a lot easier because my instrument is keyboard.)

[@christopherheckman7957]

5:31 Uh, Tommaso, phone numbers have ten digits, not seven. (We geezers remember when it WAS only seven.) 5:47 You can also count forwards four letters in the alphabet (going to A after G). Why four? Because you're looking for the fifth! Same thing works for thirds: count two letters forward. (The confusion has to do with indexing with 0 vs. indexing with 1.) 8:35 The basic idea can also be used to find the triads that belong to a particular major key. (Maybe that's part two of this video?)

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

1. Rrrrright. Showing my age, aren't I? :-) 2. yes 3. I think I covered that already in a few videos, but maybe I should do it again

[@Gwens42]

If you know you're C Major Scale pretty well , by that i mean the notes of every chords , and the chord's quality for each chord , You can also use them as a basis , then do the algebra , the + of this method is that you don't have to learn any sharps or flat for your basis . Example for two chords : Bb minor : basis B dim B D F > Bb Db F ( i flatted every note for the Bb part and i sharped once the F for the Dim to minor part) F#minor : F is F A C > so F# is F# A# C# (sharp everything)> so F#min F# A C#( flat the third) It can be tricky when you fall on strange cases : Abm for ex : Am is A C E , Abm is Ab Cb Eb , Here it is theorically best to call it a Cb but it is more practile to think of it as a B to find it quicker on the fretboard.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

It all depends if you find these relationships faster/easier to think about than just learning 5ths and 3rds. I was doing something similar to your system before switched to learning 5ths and 3rds.

[@christopherheckman7957]

It's actually arithmetic, not algebra. (Math teacher here.)

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Physicist here. We routinely refer to "algebra" with the meaning of "anything that does not involve calculus or other advanced tools". But that's our mistake and you are correct.

[@Gwens42]

​@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Yes, I think it would be useless to switch now that I'm already using my method. Since both are just starting point and now i've memorised some triads . What I should work on now are finding immediately the note of the entire scale to quickly find the notes of each degree.

[@Gwens42]

​@@christopherheckman7957 Like Tommaso , I'm more of a Physicist (i've got a Masters in Astrophysics) so yeah I used that term loosely, my bad.

[@moutine]

Just by watching this video i discovered a way to learn the fifths which is every string on the guitar, the string above is its fifth, which make sense bcz of intervals right? ill just need to learn thoses for b c and f, bcz b is actually an exception right ?

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

That's another way to go about it.

[@francescocannata1083]

I have in mind a method to derive the major third from the fifth. I start from the root, I know the fifth (I learned it) I add a whole tone to this note; its fifth will correspond to the major third.... Tommaso, do you think that will work?

[@zipperhead101]

...also, when I try to hit the "all" option on the 'Subscribed' button, it won't let me. It shows me as subscribed (which is correct) but I cannot click and select "All" for notifications. Thanks again.

[@jnbovee]

More videos on substitutions!!!

[@davidefelix]

Ho appena scoperto il tuo canale. Sei un grande!

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Grazie :)

[@antsonc]

Pensavo che "la cosa che ti rallenta" fosse proprio il cercare di ricordare il nome delle note! 😄Per quanto mi riguarda, con gli standard jazz, una volta stabiliti tonalità e rapporti tra gli accordi (tonica, sottodominante e dominante) non penso più al nome delle note - ad esempio "Strollin": tonalità di Db, il Fm e il Bbm sono anch'essi di tonica, Gb e Ebm sono di sottodominante, ci sono gli anticipi di ii V un semitono sopra... Certo, tutto aiuta... 🙂

[@johnmac8084]

Hi Tommaso, at 7:32 you said we had just learned all the major 3rds, what about A#/Bb?

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

I explain how to deal with sharps/flats at 6:53. I may be misunderstanding your question, though.

[@johnmac8084]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar I mean you did the M3 of A to G, C#, F#, Eb, Db and said that was all the M3s. I wondered if there was a reason you didn't do the M3 of A#/Bb?

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

@@johnmac8084 I see. What I meant is that I provided a few examples, and then with that system, you guys can do all the other situations.

[@johnmac8084]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Oh, I see, I misunderstood you. I guess A#M triad = A# C## E#? It's a bit messy with a ##. I guess Bb would be preferred with a more user friendly Bb D F?

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

Both spellings are fine, but Bb is more common.

[@keithmartinguitars]

This approach makes a lot of sense for horn players and pianists, but on guitar, just find a convenient root on the fretboard and read off the other notes using the nearest 3rd and 5th intervals. I think guitarists are better off learning interval geometry on the fretboard and the names of the notes on each string, rather than memorizing information that’s not directly required to make music. When improvising, it’s a lot more effective to think in terms of intervals than note names.

[@MusicTheoryForGuitar]

"When improvising." Yes. Until you get lost and you need an absolute reference on the fretboard (i.e. note) rather than a relative (i.e. interval). While in principle everything can be done through "geometric" means, occasionally the notes/spelling are more natural and faster. And when NOT improvising (but composing, for instance) LOTS of people spend the majority of their time thinking "what are the notes in Eb minor again?" Considering that all of this can be learned without taking time away from your guitar practice (I literally learned + trained all this while waiting for the bus, over a couple months, when I was a beginner), then it's a no brainer.

[@keithmartinguitars]

@@MusicTheoryForGuitar I’m not saying it’s useless information, but I’ve known the names of the notes in the triads for 40 years (I started as a reed player), and I don’t think it’s ever been useful to me except when talking to other musicians. Even when composing, I find it much more useful to think in terms of intervals. That’s the unique benefit of playing a fretted instrument, imho.

[@zebraforceone]

[Laughs in roman numerals]

[@christopherheckman7957]

Quick: What is CXLVIII divided by XIV? (Don't convert the numbers to decimal.)