Part 3: Hear and measure relationships · Lesson 028 / 117
Practice stop: explain one familiar shape
Practice stop — no rushUse a root, a third and a fifth as relationships rather than labels to recite.
Choose the notes C, E and G. You already have enough information to describe E and G relative to C. Do not worry yet about full chord formulas; simply measure and listen.
Play C, then E, then C, then G. Say “major third” for the C–E relationship and “perfect fifth” for C–G. Check the letters and fret distances whenever needed.
Now change E to Eb while leaving C and G fixed. Only one ingredient changed. Keep the rhythm identical so that you are comparing pitch relationships rather than different performances.
Finish by repeating this task from A, using A–C#–E and A–C–E. That small transfer demonstrates a method you can use beyond a single memorised C example. You do not need every interval shape across the neck before continuing.
Hear it
Triad Contrast
Audio fileFour-beat count-in · 60 BPM · Warm sampled electric guitar. Listen once before playing along.
A concrete example
C–E–G contains a major third and a perfect fifth above C. C–Eb–G changes only the third. A–C#–E and A–C–E repeat that comparison.
Try it, slowly
- Name and measure E and G above C.
- Lower E to Eb and listen to the change.
- Construct the same two comparisons above A, with the interval card beside you.
Check one idea
Which note must change to turn the major third above A into a minor third while keeping its fifth?
Show the explanation
C# lowers to C. E remains the perfect fifth above A. The reference A also stays fixed.
A good place to stop
You can construct, play and explain the comparison from two roots without requiring speed.
Return to the example after a short break. A clear explanation matters more than speed.