Am 31.07.2010 12:53, schrieb Orchid XP v8:

> So there are 12 notes in the scale, each one can be major or minor, so
> that ought to give you 24 possible chords.

Um... not exactly. The number of possible chords is actually quite 
immense, starting from the 12*2 other ways of "stacking" three tones 

typically sound pretty disharmonic by themselves), continuing with 
adding a fourth tone at another minor and/or major third interval (e.g. 
C7, Cmaj7), and leading to chords that have non-third intervals between 
the tones (e.g. Csus4 or C5). Many of these are typically interpreted as 
variations of the basic 24 (or 48) three-note chords with minor/major 
third intervals, but still...

> However, many, many of these
> differ only very slightly from each other. Plus only 7 chords are
> "available" at any one time, unless you start using complex modulations.

Again, not exactly:

- Giving your basic set of 24 major and minor chords, you only get 6 of 
them (e.g. fitting the C scale you get C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am); the seventh 


- Beyond your basic set, you get a lot more stuff again, like e.g. 
(again fitting the C scale) Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, Fmaj7, G7 and Am7, which 
are extensions to the basic chords, as well as Csus4 and Gsus4, which 

considered as a modification of G7.


And then of course there's equal-tempered vs. pythagorean vs. 
what-have-you tuning, just to make matters more fun (and I didn't even 
mention "blue notes") ;-)

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