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Most of western music, from the days of Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven,
Ellington, Parker, Gershwin to todays songwriters is based on "tertian" harmony. Tertian Harmony is defined as: Harmony that is based on the interval of thirds. Example: We have the key of C major. When this scale is harmonized, the notes are stacked upon each other in thirds, or taking every third note above the scale tone or root. Thus creating our chord, triad, 7th chords, and/or their extensions- (9,11,13). C-E-G-B is the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th degree of the scale. D-F-A-C is the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th degree of the scale, thus our minor (ii) chord. |
