Traids And Arpeggios Plain And Simple Written For Bass Can Be Applied To Guitar

author: mcblahflooper94 date: 04/13/2012 category: music theory
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I am going to try to explain triads and arpeggios. I know many find it unnecessary and boring, I did too. But once you understand theory, it magically makes you better. That is NOT a joke. Every time I learned more theory, music became much easier to understand and my ear has developed better, and my chops as well. Anyways, blahbity blahbity blah. This is a BRIEF explanation of arpeggios and triads. Really, it'll take like five seconds. ------------------ MAJOR IONIAN: FIRST: we will look at "THE" scale. This is the most normal scale, it is called the Ionian Major. Here it is.
Also, because we play bass, we're going to be playing the low notes. And if we're playing the low notes, its vital to be able to play scales starting on the open E. I will take the time to tab out this same scale starting with open E. I'm so generous ;)
Oh my gosh, it's so insane. :0. Now, the triads are the FIRST, THIRD, and FIFTH notes in this scale. This goes for every scale with eight notes. I will bracket the triads in this scale, and I will show you which note is the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth (or first) so you don't get confused.
3rd fret on the A=1st** 5th fret on the A=2nd 2nd fret on the D=3rd** 3rd fret on the D=4th 5th fret on the D=5th** 2nd fret on the G=6th 4th fret on the G=7th 5th fret on the G=8th (or the first, I've heard both. It could be the first note because they are both the same note.) does this make sense? The triads of a scale are the first, third, and fifth note in ANY scale with 7 notes (eight, counting the octave). Why does this matter? When do people even use this? Well, this guy does... Now, arpeggios.... arpeggios are basically triads, continued. They usually use the eighth note in the scale, but rarely they use the 7th note. Anyways, arpeggios. Here is a completely normal arpeggio in G.
Now, if we were to play the 5th fret open...
Hmm... that looks like a.... G MAJOR CHORD. Oh my gosh. On a side note, that is the only chord I know. I could probably, and should probably, learn most of them, but I find it rather simple to find the note by ear and if it's minor or major. This is not discouraging to know most of the chords, but it's not as vital to know, being a bassist as it is a guitarist. Does this make sense? We took the first, third, fifth, and eighth note of a scale, and only played those ones. Like I said, you COULD play the arpeggio using the seventh, but it's not usually done, and if you were to continue the scale, going to the 9th note (or 2nd) things would get a little proggy :). I'll stop myself there... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Minor Aolean The minor aolean is "the" minor scale. Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria uses this scale. in C, it goes like this.
Now, for it in open E:
Now, I'll bracket the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes and give a list of which note is which:
3rd fret on the A=1st** 5th fret on the A=2nd 6th fret on the A=3rd** 3rd fret on the D=4th 5th fret on the D=5th** 6th fret on the D=6th 3rd fret on the G=7th 5th fret on the G=8th (or 1st) Before we go to the arpeggio, I'd like for you to notice that it's not as easy to play the minor triad this way. I like to play it like this:
Okay, now the arpeggio. We take the first, third, fifth, and eighth note of the scale and only play those.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- END NOTES: Done. You have just learned two scales and triads and arpeggios. Now you might be wondering, why is a scale "major" or "minor"? Well, the easiest way to tell is by playing the triads. Understand that chords are based off of triads of scales. And lastly, know that riffs are based off of scales, but do not have to follow it exactly. You can add notes. Scales are not your car, they are just your map. Sorry for that cheesy line, but really, it's true. Remember, this is me trying to be BRIEF. There is MUCH MUCH more to learn, I just thought this could be a quick, beginning lesson. It might not have been fun, but it's SOOO important that you eventually learn this stuff. You will get so much better so quickly. And, I'm one of those people who don't enjoy being told what to do and not understanding why. Understanding music for me, has after awhile gotten *cringes* fun.
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