Great videos, but I am confused on one thing: Mr. G states that the chords are made up of the 1st, 4th and 5th semitones, but chords are built off of the 1st, 3rd and 5th root notes. Can anyone clarify this? I must be missing something. Thanks.
Discuss the lesson: Intro to Music Theory Part 11- Major Scale Studies
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Hey @neoatheos11, welcome to the forum! The chords themselves aren’t made up of the 1st, 4th, and 5th tones; however, the 1, 4, and 5 chords are the main chords of a major key. The major chords themselves are made up of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes. For example, the Amaj chord is made up of the notes A (1st), C# (3rd) and E (5th) notes, but the most common chords in the key of Amaj are A (1, or tonic), D (4th) and E (5th). Each of these chords has different notes that make them up- Amaj is made up of A (root), C# (#3rd), and E (5th), Dmaj is made up of D (root), F# (3rd), and A (5th), and Emaj is made up of E (root), G# (3rd), and B (5th). However, if you were to play a song using the 1, 4, and 5 major chords in each of these keys, you would use the major chords corresponding to the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the major scale of that key. Hope that answers your question!
-Michael
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This helps, thank you. So I understand, the key of C consists of major chords C, F and G according to the 1,4,5 method, correct?
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Yes, C, F, and G are the 1, 4, and 5 chords in the key of C. 
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Just adding in that C, F, and G are the 1, 4, and 5 natural Major chords in the Key of C Major.
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i just want to know what is the minor scale formula: WHWWHWW ? also, does the “1,4,5 is major and everything else is minor (with the diminished little 7)” still apply? or does it change? im slowly getting more comfortable with the theory as i make my way through the lessons and watch them over and over. and ive made it to the minor chord study lesson in mandolin and it made me think of this question. if u help me answer this please simplify it best u can, if possible haha(i realize its not that easy sometimes). for now i just want:
- the minor chord formula
- which notes will be major/minor (if the dead monk rule is still applicable)
Well, there is only one “type” of major scale but several minor scales, which determines what the 4 and 5’s are 
Check out this article: https://www.aboutmusictheory.com/minor-scales.html
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great article and resource! just what i was looking for. appreciate the help 
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I’m a new member as of this week and just starting the series of lessons. This one on Music Theory was excellent.
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I started last week and I really liked the chord and key theory. I was trying to figure out whether I could recognize the tones om my guitar for the various chords, following the 1-3-5 rule. Surprise surprise, of course it was spot on. Great!
Now I wanted to understand the Logic of the 7chords, like D 7 and G 7. It seems that the 7 refers to the 7th tone in the chord that comes into play, however I keep on bumping into the fact that reality does not seem to follow this logic completely. E.g. In a D7 chord I would expect a C sharp (following the wwhwwwh theory), however in reality you play a C natural. In G7 chord I would expect a F Sharp, but in reality you play F natural. Can you help me out with the logic on 7 chords? Thanks a lot!
In a 7th chord the 7th tone is flatted
In a Major 7th chord you would play the Major seventh (not flatted)
this help?
Dave
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To add to what Dave said… that is why 7 chords make you want to resolve them… That minor 7 note doesn’t sound peaceful. It sounds a bit dissonant. Make the 5 chord a 7 chord and my ear really wants to resolve to the root.
I sometimes use this fact when I changing keys between songs. Let’s say I finished a song in C and I am switching to G. Instead of going straight to the G chord progression after playing the final chord of the song in C, I’ll play a D7 and let it ring, and then my ear easily changes to G,
This may have already been covered, but if you squint a V7 can also be looked at as the diminished chord of the vii played over the root of the 5. You mentioned a G7. Lets say we are in the key of C, The G note would be the five chord root. The vii (dimished chord) of the key of C is B D F. Play that over the V root (G) and it really wants to come home to the root key of C.
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And to add, a 7 chord (not including a major 7), is often referred to as a dominant 7.
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You all helped me out!
Thanks!
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@BanjoBen - Ben, Can we also have a similar short lesson for the minor scales as well - briefly touching upon the concept of relative major and relative minors please ?
Regards,
Suvo
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I’m in! Sorry I am late to this conversation… kinda went AWOL during alot of December. I will begin working on this right away!
While I work on the video… here is a synopsis from my book Vol 1 of the CAGED system - Music Theory…
The resolution is a bit wonky as these are snapshots of the pages in the book, but this contains the basic info …
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I just wanted to thank @Mr_G for this awesome set of lessons! To be honest when I first started it I thought to myself “oh music theory, this is going to be dull but I better get it over with”!
My intention was to watch one video a day in between other lessons but I ended up watching them all in a row and then buying Volume 1 of the CAGED System! I am absolutely hooked on this, it all makes so much more sense when you delve into the science behind it! I finished reading Volume 1 this morning and will be buying the other volumes shortly!
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You are very kind! Thank you!
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