The sound of C

First there was music, then there was theory.

For more, you can always visit music theory FAQ: https://www.reddit.com/r/musictheory/wiki/index


C same frequency, different timbre.

In music, timbre, also known as tone color or tone quality from psychoacoustics) is the perceived sound quality of a musical note, sound or tone. Timbre distinguishes different types of sound production, such as choir voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. It also enables listeners to distinguish different instruments in the same category (e.g. an oboe and a clarinet, both woodwind instruments).

Middle C

There is more then one C,C2, C4,C3,C5,C6,one octave apart. Sheet music was made for piano. In MIDI, Middle C is note number 60.

Notes repeat on the fretboard

On a fretboard the same notes & chords can be played on multiple places.

Every interval has its name

Stepping from one note to the other.

We can step from C4 to C5


Finding any note based on shapes

Tuning

Guitar open string tuning between G & B has a shorter interval, so you are able to use bar chords.

Scale

A key is a set of seven notes collectively called a scale. When you hit the eighth note, you’re back to the start of the scale on the first note which is called the tonic (root).  But now you are one octave higher.

C3 to C4

Guitar music is written an octave higher so that all the notes fit on the treble clef. What is written as middle ‘C’ in guitar music is actually the ‘C’ below middle ‘C’ on piano.

Single notes to chords

In a harmonic interval both notes are sounded simultaneously. In a melodic interval notes are played in succession.

Lets add some harmonic notes and build a chord

A chord, in music, is any harmonic set of pitches consisting of two or more (usually three or more) notes (also called “pitches”) that are heard as if sounding simultaneously.[1][2] (For many practical and theoretical purposes, arpeggios and broken chords, or sequences of chord tones, may also be considered as chords.)

Chords and sequences of chords are frequently used in modern West African[3] and Oceanic music,[4] Western classical music, and Western popular music; yet, they are absent from the music of many other parts of the world.[5]

C + E  + G = C major chord, sounds very good.

Chords with the progression number & name

CHORD PROGRESSIONS

key of C circle of fifths finding chords.

Circle of fifths for composing music

  • Outermost ring tell you how many sharps or flats (black notes) are in each key.
  • How to change key within a song.
  • Coming up with strong chord progressions
  • Working out chords quick and easy

C Major Arpeggio / Chord Tones and Intervals

All the C -E-G notes on the neck

  • C Major Arpeggio Notes: C – E – G
  • Major Arpeggio (Triad) Intervals: 1 – 3 – 5

Caged, playing C-major, C – E – G all over the neck.

First 5 basic open chord shapes that are the basis for CAGED major. These chords are C major, A major, G major, E major, and D major.

Let play C-major chord all over the neck. 

 Root notes is always “C” notes, 3 is “E” and 5 is “G”. 5 shapes play C-major chord.

Intervals & scales

It’s improvisation time. Pick a scale = pick a sound.

Scales may be described according to the number of different pitch classes they contain:

  • Chromatic, or dodecatonic (12 notes per octave)
  • Octatonic (8 notes per octave): used in jazz and modern classical music
  • Heptatonic (7 notes per octave): the most common modern Western scale
  • Hexatonic (6 notes per octave): common in Western folk music
  • Pentatonic (5 notes per octave): the anhemitonic form (lacking semitones) is common in folk music, especially in Asian music; also known as the “black note” scale
  • Tetratonic (4 notes), tritonic (3 notes), and ditonic (2 notes): generally limited to prehistoric (“primitive”) music
  • Monotonic (1 note): limited use in liturgy, and for effect in modern art music[

A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five notes per octave, in contrast to the more familiar heptatonic scale that has seven notes per octave (such as the major scale and minor scale).

Pentatonic scales were developed independently by many ancient civilizations—an indication that pentatonic scales are based upon a naturally occurring phenomenon.[3]They are still used all over the world, for example (just to name a few) Chinese music and US country music and blues.

Modes: Same scale position starting on a different note.

Modes are tone groups, also called scales. One way to understand modes is to use a scale that we know, such as the C Major scale. Then, play the scale using the different tones in the scale as ‘starting points’.

Borrowed chord

https://mikesoca.com/10-basic-chord-progressions-borrowed-chords/
A borrowed chord is a chord from another key or mode. It’s used to spice things up and make things interesting.

Chord extensions

extended chords are tertian chords (built from thirds) or triads with notes extended, or added, beyond the seventh. Ninth, eleventh, and thirteenth chords are extended chords

Chord substitutions

In music theory, chord substitution is the technique of using a chord in place of another in a sequence of chords, or a chord progression. Much of the European classical repertoire and the vast majority of blues, jazz and rock music songs are based on chord progressions. “A chord substitution occurs when a chord is replaced by another that is made to function like the original. Usually substituted chords possess two pitches in common with the triad that they are replacing.”[1]