I started piano lessons recently and in my first lesson got the sheet music for "Cold As Ice" by foreigner, I think a pretty basic song for starting piano students. I'm just supposed to be paying attention to the treble part and nothing else. The first two chords in the song are Ebsus, and Ebm. However the next different chord in the song from low to high are the notes: B(below middle C), Eb, and Ab. My teacher asked me what chord I thought it was: I said B6, and I remember him saying it wasn't right and that the root can't be B, and that it must be an inverted Abm chord (Ab, B, Eb) because they have to be in thirds of each other. Is this true? I just got confused. I'm not saying he's wrong at all. But he told me to identify a lot of the other chords in the song, so is this what I have to do whenever identifying the left-hand chords.
What would this next chord be called?: from low to high it's B, Eb, Gb. Just Bmaj, right?
It's just feel like I'm not right in the way I'm spelling/identifying the chords and I'm so confused.
Can someone please help?
Thanks alot
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Spelling chords in the key of Dflat
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JumpingJackFlash JumpingJackFlash https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=44005
- KVRian
- 1227 posts since 10 Oct, 2004
I already replied on the other forum, but here it is again:
In this context, the note that you're calling B is actually a Cb. - They sound the same, but the difference is important (we say they are 'enharmonically equivalent').
In most Western harmony, chords are typically constructed from thirds.
A third is three letters along in the alphabet, counting both where you start and where you finish (flats and sharps are irrelevant to this bit).
A to A would be a first (we call it a unison), A to B is a second, A to C is a third, A to D is a fourth, and so on.
So, A to C is a third.
A to C#, Ab to C and Ab to Cb are also thirds, but different types of third.
So, whenever you have to identify a chord, you must first re-arrange the notes (preferably in your head, but on paper if you have to) so there is a third between each note.
If you have Ab, Cb and Eb, then that is the only order where there is a third between each note.
Other combinations don't work because Eb to Ab is not a third (it is a fourth).
If it was a B chord, you would need some sort of B, some sort of D (a third higher than B), and some sort of F (a third higher than D).
Since you don't have that, it cannot be a type of B chord.
Like before, you've written B when it should be Cb.*
The chord is Cb-Eb-Gb.
And this makes things much easier because there is now a third between each note, so it is some sort of Cb chord.
Now, you can then tell whether the chord is major or minor (or something else) by looking at the different types of third in the chord.
If the third spans 4 semitones, it is called a major third.
If it only spans 3 semitones, it is called a minor third.
If the chord is a major third followed by a minor third, the chord is a major chord.
If the chord is a minor third followed by a major third, the chord is a minor chord.
If the chord is two minor thirds, the chord is diminished.
If the chord is two major thirds, the chord is augmented.
So, in the case of Cb-Eb-Gb:
Cb-Eb is 4 semitones, a major third.
Eb-Gb is 3 semitones, a minor third.
So, you have a major third followed by a minor third which means the chord is a major chord.
The chord is therefore Cb major.
My Introduction to Music Theory might be useful.
* If the music is indeed written with a B and not a Cb, then this is very difficult example for your teacher to give you when you're just starting to understand basic triads. - It may have been done deliberately to trick you and see how you'd react (or see how much you know). Tell your teacher about your confusion and he should explain.
Yes, but it's important you spell chords right.coda532 wrote:the notes: B(below middle C), Eb, and Ab. My teacher asked me what chord I thought it was: I said B6, and I remember him saying it wasn't right and that the root can't be B, and that it must be an inverted Abm chord (Ab, B, Eb) because they have to be in thirds of each other. Is this true?
In this context, the note that you're calling B is actually a Cb. - They sound the same, but the difference is important (we say they are 'enharmonically equivalent').
In most Western harmony, chords are typically constructed from thirds.
A third is three letters along in the alphabet, counting both where you start and where you finish (flats and sharps are irrelevant to this bit).
A to A would be a first (we call it a unison), A to B is a second, A to C is a third, A to D is a fourth, and so on.
So, A to C is a third.
A to C#, Ab to C and Ab to Cb are also thirds, but different types of third.
So, whenever you have to identify a chord, you must first re-arrange the notes (preferably in your head, but on paper if you have to) so there is a third between each note.
If you have Ab, Cb and Eb, then that is the only order where there is a third between each note.
Other combinations don't work because Eb to Ab is not a third (it is a fourth).
No.coda532 wrote:What would this next chord be called?: from low to high it's B, Eb, Gb. Just Bmaj, right?
If it was a B chord, you would need some sort of B, some sort of D (a third higher than B), and some sort of F (a third higher than D).
Since you don't have that, it cannot be a type of B chord.
Like before, you've written B when it should be Cb.*
The chord is Cb-Eb-Gb.
And this makes things much easier because there is now a third between each note, so it is some sort of Cb chord.
Now, you can then tell whether the chord is major or minor (or something else) by looking at the different types of third in the chord.
If the third spans 4 semitones, it is called a major third.
If it only spans 3 semitones, it is called a minor third.
If the chord is a major third followed by a minor third, the chord is a major chord.
If the chord is a minor third followed by a major third, the chord is a minor chord.
If the chord is two minor thirds, the chord is diminished.
If the chord is two major thirds, the chord is augmented.
So, in the case of Cb-Eb-Gb:
Cb-Eb is 4 semitones, a major third.
Eb-Gb is 3 semitones, a minor third.
So, you have a major third followed by a minor third which means the chord is a major chord.
The chord is therefore Cb major.
My Introduction to Music Theory might be useful.
* If the music is indeed written with a B and not a Cb, then this is very difficult example for your teacher to give you when you're just starting to understand basic triads. - It may have been done deliberately to trick you and see how you'd react (or see how much you know). Tell your teacher about your confusion and he should explain.
Unfamiliar words can be looked up in my Glossary of musical terms.
Also check out my Introduction to Music Theory.
Also check out my Introduction to Music Theory.
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- KVRAF
- 26033 posts since 20 Oct, 2007 from gonesville
Spell it correctly as Cb of course, and this is known as Ab minor in first inversion; in harmony class or what-have-you, this is actually called a 'six chord' referring to the interval in the inversion. EG: In Gb major the figure, cf. 'figured bass' will be ii6 (albeit the 6 is typically positioned lower than the roman number). The art of that is about voice-leading, which is, in general terms the reason for 'inversions'.[B, Eb, and Ab] I said B6/he said that the root can't be B, and that it (Ab, B, Eb) must be an inverted Abm chord because they have to be in thirds of each other. Is this true? I just got confused. I'm not saying he's wrong at all.
If there is that Cb consistently, identifying the key as 'D flat' might be deemed incorrect; anyway it wouldn't be 'Db major', where the seventh of that scale will be C natural. if the quality of the Ab triad is consistently minor as well chances are the key is Gb major, six flats in the key signature. If that 'key signature' is true, and the tonic is really Db, this song might be Db mixolydian in content.
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PurpleCatfishBettie PurpleCatfishBettie https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=211816
- KVRAF
- 3278 posts since 22 Jul, 2009
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- KVRer
- 8 posts since 24 Mar, 2013 from United States
Agree that it would be a C flat chord, but I would add that the bass note is of some significance. I would call it a "C flat (G flat bass)." I've seen plenty of sheet music that labels such voicings this way. Or "B (F# bass)" depending...