Tetrachords

Gary Reed · Posted 12 Jun 2011 7:07 am

I understand that in C major the first 4 notes (tetra means 4) are CDEF.
The second 4 notes are GABC of the C maj scale. This GABC is also the first 4 notes of G major scale.

Is there some kind of revelation here I'm missing for improvisation?

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Yes. If you wanted to have a better understanding of how closely scales are related to each other and how this information is useful in improvisation, spend some time studying modes and Modal Theory. There are a lot of sources for this information available. You can start here:

http://www.zentao.com/guitar/modes/
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links

Mike Ihde · From: Boston, MA

It's the intervals between the notes that count, not that there are 4 of them. The Major tetrachord is whole step, whole step, half step. When you put 2 of them together, you can build a major scale. (C major plus G major)
If you use 2 whole, half, whole tetrachords you get a Dorian or minor 7th scale.
(C minor plus G minor)
If you use a major one on C and another major one on F# you get a diminished scale and all wholes steps will be an augmented scale.
So the concept of tetrachords was created to allow people to create scales based on the intervals between the notes.

Mike

Forum Index > Steel Without Pedals		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: