Thinking in Tetrachords

[@cheersbro7347]

Ive recently seen a video that was called somethink like “learn all diatonic modes with three simple patterns”. It was basically about a three note/string system. It explained a sequence of 3 patterns (ww,hw,wh) together with how you slide up one or two frets when reaching to the next string on certain parts of the sequence. Now it all makes sense. I just realize that these two are basically the same concept. Until that poit I didnt really get what tetra chords are good for. But its MIND BLOWING. This way of thinking is a gamechanger for any guitar/lute like instrument player. Or really any musician.

[@alexrockwellmusic]

I don't think it's the be all end all, but it's an excellent angle of understanding. It's especially useful your visualization when you're laying out scales in two or four notes per string, which are less utilitarian scale fingerings, but definitely worth exploring.

[@landmaster10]

My piano teacher was telling me about this last week. I went home, played around with it, and had a blast. It was mind-blowing when I realized "so THAT'S why it's called the circle of 5ths!" Great explanation

[@SlightReturnSTL-h9i]

Thank you very much! When I decided I'm long overdue to learn what the term "tetrachord" means this morning, I'm glad your video caught my eye. I appreciate everything about how you presented this information.

[@alexrockwellmusic]

I'm glad it helped you!

[@ashnpikachu]

You are extremely underrated. thank you for such a detailed and well explained lesson

[@ebolds4918]

Your explanation helped a lot 👍🏽

[@louseiler8384]

I really appreciate the care you take in choosing your words to explore musical relationships in multiple ways. I'm a keyboard player, and I find your lesson extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@alexrockwellmusic]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@gerharduskeulen1028]

thanks for the great lesson man. I've just recently begun taking theory more seriously and i find great assistance in this video. your explanations are extremely clear, easy to understand, and rather inspiring too. Please make more.

[@alexrockwellmusic]

Thanks a lot!

[@salthepal]

That’s exactly how scales in Arabic music are built

[@alexrockwellmusic]

with further use of quarter tones, if I'm not mistaken

[@salthepal]

@@alexrockwellmusic yes! We do have the tetrachords you demonstrated : ajam (major), nahawand (minor), kurd (Phrygian), Hijaz (harmonic) that mix and match into various scales that are classified based on their lower tetrachord. We also have tetrachords (and a trichord) that use neutral second and neutral third intervals: Rast (1, 3/4, 3/4), bayati (3/4, 3/4, 1), segah (3/4, 1) (this one starts on the microtonal note) etc.

[@alexrockwellmusic]

@@salthepal Interesting! I've never taken a deep dive into music that uses quarter tones. It's just not something we're exposed to much where I live. But my loose understanding is that scales constructed this way are used primarily for their melodic capabilities and not so much for harmony, is that right?

[@salthepal]

@@alexrockwellmusic that's right, it's modal rather tonal. It's almost impossible to harmonize with microtones. Modern Arabic popular music though does use harmonies, resulting in the domination of non-microtonal scales

[@alexrockwellmusic]

@@salthepal I always had what I thought was a naive misunderstanding about eastern music that uses quarter tones and microtones - that there is no theory of harmony like in western music, but more theory of rhythm and melody. But thinking about how intervals harmonize and the physics of it all, it makes sense that it would be really impractical when working in microtones. It's amazing to think about how different music is disparate parts of the world can be even when it's all governed by the same fundamental principles.