Music Theory Study 2 - Ex. 2.5
Wed, 04/10/2024 - 03:53
Hello David,
Thank you for the fantastic website.
In the Music Theory Study 2.5, for the 2 draw half step bend, I don't understand why it goes from the 1st scale degree to the 7th.
As in the Myxolydian mode there's a whole step between the 7th and the 8th degree, then if I bend the 2 draw by a half step should'nt it go from 1st degree to 1st b ?
(Idem for the 9 blow)
Thank you
Hello JJerome.
Thank you, I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the site.
Music theory is generally based on the major scale first and foremost. Each note of the scale is numbered from 1 through 7 (scale degrees)... as you know, but just stating it for the sake of clarity.
In the key of G we get G (1), A (2), B (3), C (4), D (5), E (6), F# (7).
So, F# is the 7th, or more specifically the major 7th. F natural is the flat-7th.
Since the Mixolydian Scale uses the flat-7th as its normal note, the 7th is the raised version of it (F#).
With all this in mind, relative to the root note of the song (G), F# is the 7th and F is the flat-7th. If you call something a flat-1, that means you're flattening the root note (Gb), which has a different function than a 7th (at least in our minds).
Make sense?