BASIC MUSIC THEORY (from musicologize) 

PART 2 

We present music as a twelve-​note​ system. But, as we just said, we use only seven letters 

as ​note​ names, thus leaving five other ​notes​ that need names. We refer to these ​notes​ as 
either raised (“sharp” and symboled “#”) or lowered (“flat” and symboled “b”) versions of 

letter-named ​notes​. For example, the ​note​ that lies a ​half step​ above A and also a ​half 
step​ below B (between A and B) can be referred to as as either A# (raised A) or Bb 
(lowered B). 

And the ​note​ that lies between E and F? There isn’t one. You knew that too, probably. So, 

does that mean E-sharp is the same ​note​ as F? Yes, it is indeed, and nobody cares. We 
barely cared about sharps and flats in general. Moving on now. Got places to be… 

What’s a chord?  

A ​chord​ is a group of ​notes​ sounded together; “​harmony”​ again. For example C, E, G, B, 

D all sounded together is a ​chord​. 

What is a triad? 

A ​triad​ is by far the most common ​chord​ type. It’s a three-​note​ c

​ hord​ wherein there’s an 

interval of a third between the first two notes, and also between the second two notes. 
More simply, just take stacks of three notes and use every other letter name. ACE, BDF, 

CEG, DFA, EGB, FAC, and GBD. That’s a bunch of triads. Some of which are major and 
some of which are minor. Ah crap, here we go.