TSJMajesty
Rock Star
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- 5,172
I know that chords are naturally derived from physics:
Divide a string in 2 equal parts, play that harmonic and you get the octave interval. Ok, easy enough.
Divide a string into 3 parts, play either of those harmonics and you get the fifth.
4 parts, you get the next octave on the 1/4 and 3/4 nodes,
And 5 parts, you get the major 3rd.
So "nature" gives us, via simple physics, a root-3rd-5th-octave major chord.
Beyond that, I used to think someone came up with a formula to generate the remaining notes (the 12th root of 2, btw), so they would "fit correctly" between those first couple of harmonics. But not exactly.
Yes, we use that formula to create this thing called equal temperament, but the 12 notes continue to originate from physics.
Go back to the 2nd harmonic which gives us the 5th. Start on any note.
So starting with C, gives us a G (G is the 5th of C, which comes from the harmonic.) Now continue...
G as the root, the 5th is D
D gives us A
A gives us E
E-B
B-F#
F#-C#
C#-G#
G#-D#
D#-A#
A#-F
F-C
And that's gives us all 12 notes!
Major "lightbulb moment!"
Divide a string in 2 equal parts, play that harmonic and you get the octave interval. Ok, easy enough.
Divide a string into 3 parts, play either of those harmonics and you get the fifth.
4 parts, you get the next octave on the 1/4 and 3/4 nodes,
And 5 parts, you get the major 3rd.
So "nature" gives us, via simple physics, a root-3rd-5th-octave major chord.
Beyond that, I used to think someone came up with a formula to generate the remaining notes (the 12th root of 2, btw), so they would "fit correctly" between those first couple of harmonics. But not exactly.
Yes, we use that formula to create this thing called equal temperament, but the 12 notes continue to originate from physics.
Go back to the 2nd harmonic which gives us the 5th. Start on any note.
So starting with C, gives us a G (G is the 5th of C, which comes from the harmonic.) Now continue...
G as the root, the 5th is D
D gives us A
A gives us E
E-B
B-F#
F#-C#
C#-G#
G#-D#
D#-A#
A#-F
F-C
And that's gives us all 12 notes!
Major "lightbulb moment!"