Help Would be Appreciated

[Nirvana-Underground]

Um I dont know much about music theory...yet but heres my problem.
OKay I'm looking at this article on writting grunge and they say the chords should be like
I, bIII,IV, bVI and bVII
now I get the 1 chord and the 4th chord but what do the flats mean!! I'm a little stressed out, would the bIII be a II or Arrg...I'm new to music theory even though this would be basic for you guys....
O and by the way I'm new to Next Level Guitar, Thanks Dave and Tim!!

[LChance]

In a nutshell, here's what's going on....

You are dealing with a minor scale (flat or minor 3rd, flat or minor 6th and flat or minor 7th). In the major scale, the 3rd, 6th and 7th scale degrees are all major.

[Nirvana-Underground]

ok so those chords are a minor scale, but what would these chords be in the Key of C,
C=I
Eb=bIII
F=IV
G#=bVI
Bb=bVII

I'm using the songwritting major scale that dave made/
but I'm really confused about that
so its a minor scale but what do you mean the
flat or minor 3rd
would it be minor flat scale or it could be minor3rd scale
I'm so confused

[LChance]

To know the difference between the major and minor scales, you must understand the interval differences between the two. Since you're trying to play in the key of C, we'll stick to the C major and C minor scales, although these formulas work with all major and minor scales.

The C major scale looks like this:

C (root/1st degree), D (2nd degree), E (3rd degree), F (4th degree), G (5th degree), A (6th degree), B (7th degree) and C (octaved root).

Now let's look at the intervals (distance on the fretboard) between the notes. It is important that you understand this, because this is where the difference is between the major and minor scales.

The C major scale and the intervals looks like this:

C (WS) - D (WS) - E (HS) - F (WS) - G (WS) - A (WS) - B (HS) - C.

WS = Whole step or 2 frets between the notes.
HS = Half step or 1 fret between the notes.

For illustration purposes, the C major scale can be played like this:


E ---------------------
B ---------------------
G ---------------------
D ---------------------
A --3-5-78-10-12-1415
E ---------------------

The C minor scale looks like this:

C (root/1st degree), D (2nd degree), Eb (3rd degree/minor or flat 3rd), F (4th degree), G (5th degree), Ab (6th degree/minor or flat 6th), Bb (7th degree/minor or flat 7th) and C (octaved root).

The C minor scale and the intervals looks like this:

C (WS) - D (HS) - Eb (WS) - F (WS) - G (HS) - Ab (WS) - Bb (WS) - C.

WS = Whole step or 2 frets between the notes.
HS = Half step or 1 fret between the notes.

For illustration purposes, the C minor scale can be played like this:


E ---------------------
B ---------------------
G ---------------------
D ---------------------
A --3-56-8-1011-13-15
E ---------------------


Try playing the two scales, as tabbed above, so that you can hear the difference between the two. Remember what David says is the difference between the majors and minors. One is bright and happy and the other is gloomy and sad.

You first must understand the different scales and what makes them different. Then you must understand that we build the chords from these scales (that's why notes from a given scale sound good when played over chord progressions, with chords built from the same scale).

Good luck!

[Nirvana-Underground]

thanks bro I'm sure now I'll get the hang of it, just have to study these :D
I still dont quite understand the article i read about the grunge chords 100%
but now I dont feel dumb :D
Thank you.

[screamin eagle]

What has been said as been explained pretty well, so I won't try to confuse you anymore than you are. But know that we all have been there and have labored over this same stuff. You'll get, and once you do you will be able to explain it to someone else, just keep studying and trying to see if from different angles and soon it will just click.

[tomgaldos]

That gets my vote as the most helpful reply ever! I'm printing this one!!!

[LChance]

Hi,

That gets my vote as the most helpful reply ever! I'm printing this one!!!
Thanks for the kind words. They are much appreciated.

Don't get lost in all the technical mumbo-jumbo. Memorize the 12 notes of western music (A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G and G#), and remember the formulas for building the major and minor chords, and then the formula for building chords from the scales and you'll have it licked! :) :cool:

[Nirvana-Underground]

OKay thanks Lchance :D
Okay I'm going to go study formulas for major and minor chords at dave lesson
right now!!