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What Are the Building Blocks of Harmony: How Do Triads Function in Music?

When we talk about harmony in music, it’s all about two important types of chords: triads and seventh chords.

Triads are simple chords made up of three notes. They are super important because they form the basic sound of most music. A triad has three parts:

  1. Root: This is the main note. It’s what the chord is named after.
  2. Third: This note helps decide if the triad sounds happy or sad. A major triad sounds happy, while a minor triad sounds sad.
  3. Fifth: This note doesn’t change the overall feel much, but it makes the sound fuller.

For example, in a C major triad, the notes are C (root), E (third), and G (fifth).

Now, seventh chords take things up a notch by adding one more note. This fourth note makes the chord sound richer and more complex. There are different types of seventh chords, like major, minor, dominant, and half-diminished. The type depends on how the notes are spaced apart.

Understanding how these chords work is super helpful for musicians. It lets them create progressions that can bring out specific feelings or add tension. For example, the V7 chord, also known as the dominant seventh chord, really wants to move to the I chord, which is called the tonic. This creates a satisfying feeling in music.

By mixing triads and seventh chords, you can discover lots of exciting sounds and express yourself better in music. It's all about using these building blocks to create something beautiful!

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What Are the Building Blocks of Harmony: How Do Triads Function in Music?

When we talk about harmony in music, it’s all about two important types of chords: triads and seventh chords.

Triads are simple chords made up of three notes. They are super important because they form the basic sound of most music. A triad has three parts:

  1. Root: This is the main note. It’s what the chord is named after.
  2. Third: This note helps decide if the triad sounds happy or sad. A major triad sounds happy, while a minor triad sounds sad.
  3. Fifth: This note doesn’t change the overall feel much, but it makes the sound fuller.

For example, in a C major triad, the notes are C (root), E (third), and G (fifth).

Now, seventh chords take things up a notch by adding one more note. This fourth note makes the chord sound richer and more complex. There are different types of seventh chords, like major, minor, dominant, and half-diminished. The type depends on how the notes are spaced apart.

Understanding how these chords work is super helpful for musicians. It lets them create progressions that can bring out specific feelings or add tension. For example, the V7 chord, also known as the dominant seventh chord, really wants to move to the I chord, which is called the tonic. This creates a satisfying feeling in music.

By mixing triads and seventh chords, you can discover lots of exciting sounds and express yourself better in music. It's all about using these building blocks to create something beautiful!

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