1st, 4th, 5th are major, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th minor

[xdanxx]

Someone told me the other day the 1st, 4th, 5th intervals are Major, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are minor, and the 7th interval is diminished.

Can someone explain this to me, what it means and the relevance. Or point me to a link.

 

[anonymous111813]

I guess you mean the chords of the (natural) C-major tonal system:

I: c-e-g C-maj
II: d-f-a D-minor
III: e-g-b Em
IV: f-a-c Fmaj
V: Gmaj
VI: Am
VII: Bdim

 

[bigboy_78]

The chords made from the points in the scale are major/minor.

If you take every second note of the scale from those starting points thats what you get.
eg.

CDEFGAB

C_E_G maj
D_A_F min

etc.

 

[tjh]

... that is if it is a major scale

 

[fearceol]

Or point me to a link.

http://www.studybass.com/lessons/bass-scales/the-difference-between-major-and-minor/

 

[miltslackford]

Someone told me the other day the 1st, 4th, 5th intervals are Major, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are minor, and the 7th interval is diminished.

Can someone explain this to me, what it means and the relevance. Or point me to a link.

Hi I've popped this up on a page on my website for you. Please ask if you don't understand any of it.

Link Removed

 

[MalcolmAmos]

Same thing just in a different format:

Code:
C Major scale – notes and chords
Note	 ScaleTone 	Chord	spelling	        function
C		1	Cmaj7	CEGB R-3-5-7 		I	(tonic)
D		2	Dm7	DFAC R-b3-5-b7		ii
E		3	Em7	EGBD R-b3-5-b7		iii
F		4	Fmaj7	FACE R-3-5-7		IV	(subdominant)
G		5	G7	GBDF R-3-5-b7		V	(dominant)
A		6	Am7	ACEG R-b3-5-b7		vi	
B		7	Bm7b5	BDFA R-b3-b5-b7		viidim  (diminished)

The one thing I live by is the spelling; R-3-5-7 for the maj7 chord and R-b3-5-b7 for the m7 chord. Why? That's how I compose my bass line. See the Cmaj7 chord and know that R-3-5-7 will work, what I put in the bass line depends on the song. I may only have room for the root, or the root five, but, if I do have more room then the 3 and 7 will work on the 2 and 4 beat. I find that reassuring. See a chord and know what will work.

To understand how to use that chart, why is the D chord in the stack a Dm? Has to do with the spelling - your stack ends up being DFAC and when you compare this with the D major scale the D major scale has a F# and a C# in it. So -- your stack flatted the F# and the C# and in doing so you got the spelling of R-b3-5-b7. The b3 tells us it is a minor chord and the b7 tells us that is the spelling of a minor seventh chord. Therefore when I see a Dm7 chord I know that R-b3-5-b7 will make a bass line I can use. Here is another chart that I live by. http://www.smithfowler.org/music/Chord_Formulas.htm

Yes, learn how to stack your scale in thirds (every other note) it will open some doors.

Forgot - you do need the major scale box to understand how to find the R-3-5-7 scale degrees on your fretboard.

[b]Major Scale Box. 

G|---2---|-------|---3---|---4---| 1st string
D|---6---|-------|---7---|---8---|
A|---3---|---4---|-------|---5---|
E|-------|---R---|-------|---2---|4th string

You are playing the Cmaj7 chord.Place the R on 
a C note - 3rd string 3rd fret, then play the box's 
pattern for R-3-5-7.  What is the next chord?
Probably the Fmaj7.  OK place the R over an F note
and again play your R-3-5-7 pattern.   Where is the F?
How about right above the C.  Next chord is probably
a G7.  Where is there a G note?  How about right 
below the C.  Isn't that great!  If you place the root of the
tonic I chord on the 3rd string it works this way every time. 
Now this time the pattern for the G7 chord will be R-3-5-b7.  
Gotta get your scale degrees for the major (3 & 7), minor (b3 & b7),
dominant (3 & b7), and then m7b5 (diminished is b3, b5 & b7)
chords into memory.  Not a step for a stepper.   And notice
we did not have to move all over the fretboard to get all
of this in.  Enjoy![/b]

Have fun.

 

[mambo4]

Someone told me the other day the 1st, 4th, 5th intervals are Major, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th are minor, and the 7th interval is diminished.

As mentioned, this refers to chords built on the major scale. interval means something different.

Hi I've popped this up on a page on my website for you.
Link Removed

excellent summary.

Theses chords, based on the major scale, are what it means when we say a song is "in the key of < whatever >":
It means the song uses chords derived form the scale of <whatever>.

I firmly believe this is the single most important part of theory to understand for bass players.:
learning to understand chord progressions as functional progressions (I-IV-V7, vi-ii-V7-I etc)
and seeing your bass lines relate to the chord tones
(instead of scales , modes, boxes or specific notes and being stuck in any specific key.)

 

[dmrogers]

As mentioned, this refers to chords built on the major scale. interval means something different.


excellent summary.

Theses chords, based on the major scale, are what it means when we say a song is "in the key of < whatever >":
It means the song uses chords derived form the scale of <whatever>.

I firmly believe this is the single most important part of theory to understand for bass players.:
learning to understand chord progressions as functional progressions (I-IV-V7, vi-ii-V7-I etc)
and seeing your bass lines relate to the chord tones
(instead of scales , modes, boxes or specific notes and being stuck in any specific key.)

I agree!

 

[xdanxx]

makes more sense now. thank you everyone.