so i was reading a review of "take a walk on the wild side" and the critic claimed that it was the first pop song to utilize major tenths. i don't get it - how is a tenth not just a third?
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ok, i understand that part of it, which is why a ninth is called a ninth. but i don't understand how a basic chord tone is considered an extension just because it's an octave up from what the other bass is playing. by that logic, any time my guitarist plays a third he's actually playing a tenth, since i'm probably on a root an octave down. ditto for fifths.
????? Narco. You better get a book on Jazz harmony. Try John Mehegan's book. On the classical side, try Walter Piston's book. I am sure there are more current books also.A 2nd is not the same as a 9th in the chord. If you get on a piano and play a chord with a 2nd where the 2nd note is close to the root, you get a closed voicing. Play it where the 2 is actually an octave up, you get a ninth w/ an open voicing.
I've never heard of anyone using these books. AFAIK, the go-to reference is always Mark Levine's Jazz Theory book. Don't let the troll confuse you Narco.Try John Mahegan's book. On the classical side, try Walter Piston's book.
Dude, I think you're working too hard.blah blah blah blah blah
Man. You shoud have been banned on this site about a month ago, IMO.
You are an admitted troll. Your Profile has changed three times, depending on what you want to say and what you seem to need. Whatever that could possibly be...who knows.
I got your PM about "trying to do the right thing".
As usual, good luck.
I think we've got a clash of terminology, not a clash of conflicting music theories.
On the one hand we've got intervals, and a 10th is an interval that's nice to play on basses. It's nicer than voicing the notes close together as thirds where a bass's thick tone tends to blur the notes (usually) into a musical version of mud. Thirds are okay played high on many basses but rarely sound clear enough to be of much use when played in a low register.
On the other hand we've got that part of the theory of harmony which talks about the naming and spelling chords, and why a 13 chord is spelled pretty differently to a 6 chord.
Any number is fair game in describing intervals, but only some numbers have a meaning when spelling chords ie those numbers that we have a rule for. (6, 7, 9, 11 and 13 have rules for triad chords and 2 and 4 have rules for either suspended or 'add' chords, and that's pretty much it).
A note on spelling chords that may give some clarity for the OP. Even number chords are usually based on a major triad where odd number chords on the dominant 7 chord.
- When the number is 2 or 4 the chord should ordinarily specified as either being a Sus chord (the 3rd is replaced with the 2 or 4) or an Add chord (the 3rd remains and a 2 or 4 is voiced somewhere ... not necessarily in the same octave). The chord is still based on the major triad unless specified as minor.
- When the number is 6, it is a major triad plus a major 6 note, although it's usually accepted that a major 7 chord can be substituted for it without harm.
- When the number is high it will be odd! With 7, 9, 11 and 13 chords, you apply the jazz spelling and base the chord on the dominant 7 chord with extensions, unless the chord is specified as minor or major. If it's minor, use the dorian mode to spell it.
A G6 chord (g b d e) with a 6 one octave up is still a G13, but you just don't know if it's a dom or a maj chord since the 7 and 9 missing. Either that or it's just G6+13. The sound is of the 13 is still there.

Because he's trying to take over the world, Chuck. He's trying to take over the world.