Introduction to Note Function

You don't have to know loads of maths or music theory to become a better guitar player. Still, there are a few things worth knowing, especially when you want to become a more advanced guitar player. 

 

In fact, the further you get along your guitar journey, the more critical it is to understand the function of things, and that's what we are doing today regarding chord tones.

Actually, when I was studying guitar and understood note function, the light bulb went on. I hope this lesson has the same effect on you! Here are some benefits you can expect from understanding notes' function:

• A better understanding of how chords are constructed;

• It'll be easier to memorize chord grips;

• You'll be able to morph one chord into another;

• And change Major grips into Minor grips!

 

We’ll keep it pretty simple in this lesson and look at notes' function in our E Shape Barre Chords. If you're following the JustinGuitar Practical Music Theory Course, you'll already be familiar with most of this. But stick around, so you refresh your memory!

 

What's Note Function?

By function, I mean the relevance of the chord tone to the root note, usually the tonal center. Of course, long-term, you should aim to know the role of every note in every chord that you play. But that takes time and some study over a few years!

Now let's look at our E Shape Barre Chords. First, we’ll start with an overview of the essential knowledge in the Basic Major Chord structure.

 

Where Does a Major Chord Come From?

All the notes in a Major Chord come from the same Major Scale. 

A triad contains the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the Major Scale. So, for example, if we want to find the notes in a G Major Triad, we need the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of the G Major Scale, G, B, and D. 

 

Let's take a look at the C Major Chord. 

The C Major Chord has no sharps and flats. The notes in the Key of C Major are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. If we take the first, the third, and the fifth one, we'll get the C, E, and G notes. So when you play an open C Chord, those are the notes you're actually playing! Check it out:

 

 

E Shape Barre Note Functions

If you play a C Shape Barre Chord (using the E Shape), you will be playing those exact notes. So you’ll play the root note three times, the 5th twice, and the 3rd just once! Take a look:

 

If you know the function of each one of those notes, you can easily manipulate that chord and turn it in another one!

 

How To Change Major Chords Into Minor Chords

You only need to lower the 3rd note by one semitone to change a Major Chord into a Minor Chord. Thus, this flattened 3rd is named a “Minor 3rd” - or commonly a B3, pronounced flat 3. 

Because the 3rd only happens once in the E Shape, it's very easy to change this chord grip into its Minor version. That only takes one finger!

Let's think about some open chords that you should be familiar with. Of course, if you've been doing the JustinGuitar Practical Music Theory Course, you'll already be familiar with this exercise. :)

 

A Chord and A Minor Chords

Notice they’re only one note different - any guesses what that note would be? The function of it? The same thing happens with D Major and D Minor, right?

If you've learned the names of the notes on the fretboard in the open position, you should be able to work it out. But, first, write down the names of the notes in the Major Chord and then the Minor.

What has changed? Did you get it right?

 

Here's some other food for thought:

Have you ever wondered why there was no Open G Minor or C Minor? The notes in G and G, B, D, and the notes in C are C, E, and G.

DO IT. See if you can work out how to play an Open G Minor and an Open C Minor.

HINT. There are not good practical big open grips - but you will learn a lot in the process of exploring it and seeing what works and what doesn't. 

 

What About Dominant 7th Chords?

Depending on where you are in your guitar journey, you'll be able to manipulate different grips! For example, the 7th chord adds a flat 7 Scale degree to a Major triad, so the root, 3rd, 5th, and FLAT 7th scale degrees.

The flat 7 is one tone LOWER than the root note - so two frets below the root. We’re just getting a taster of this here - and I mainly want you to learn the difference between Major and Minor (for the next lesson) but be aware of the 7th.

Note that the 7th is a Major Triad plus a b7, so you can always play a regular Major Chord if you don’t know a particular 7th chord. It won’t sound quite as spicy, but it'll always sound fine.

 

Want to Learn More?

My Music Theory course goes deep into this stuff in Grade 4. :) It also covers chords in the keys, common progressions, chord manipulation, and a whole lot more! :) You might find music theory is boring - but that's not the case over here! Give it a try. 

 

Practice Routine

I'd like you to spend some time thinking about everything we've learned in this lesson. There is a lot of food for thought here - explore it and learn! :) Here's my suggestion:

 

Item 1 - 5 mins - Barre Chord Song Practice

You should continue working on songs that are using all the barre chords you have learned so far. We’re developing the muscles and memory here - make sure you are solid on your root notes. Have a go at playing some new songs and finding the chords instantly if you can!

 

Item 2 - 5 Minutes - Theory Work

I’d like you to spend some time thinking about the note function and exploring that. 

 

See you next to understand all about Triads!