Tones without black dots: Doremi in color just little expanded
E
so
al
la
it
ti
do'
er'
re'
im'
mi'
fa'
os'
so'
al'
la'
it'
ti'
do''
er''
re''
im''
B
re
im
mi
fa
os
so
al
la
it
ti
do'
er'
re'
im'
mi'
fa'
os'
so'
al'
la'
it'
G
'it
'ti
do
er
re
im
mi
fa
os
so
al
la
it
ti
do'
er'
re'
im'
mi'
fa'
os'
D
'fa
'os
'so
'al
'la
'it
'ti
do
er
re
im
mi
fa
os
so
al
la
it
ti
do'
er'
A
'do
'er
're
'im
'mi
'fa
'os
'so
'al
'la
'it
'ti
do
er
re
im
mi
fa
os
so
al
E
''so
''al
''la
''it
''ti
'do
'er
're
'im
'mi
'fa
'os
'so
'al
'la
'it
'ti
do
er
re
im
We all go 'do're'mi, but you have got to find the other notes yourself
~ ~ ~ (Louis Armstrong) ~ ~ ~
Tones
A hall of fame for twelve tones.
It's just like family. Don't want all twelve of them in one room.
But also: you can't miss anyone, because everyone has something you need.
Below the Hall of Fame for the Twelve Tones. After that you'll witness the birth of the first notes.
First the sung doremi tones. Then the other five.
If you happended to have been on a fair and bought an old violin, only 2 strings, you might
get a nice sunday afternoon. If this didnt happen, just push ->.
Just 'ploink' a string. If you're violin-less: ploink the button.
I just hope you found the -> button, else you'll admit that pushing the tone-button gets boring
lets start an adventure.
Tune the other string exactly the same. Both strings sound like:
Slightly better.
Magic happens with your finger in the midst of the second string.
Play the strings at the same time, and you will hear:
Of course, you can also replace your finger and hear two-thirds of the string
of 3/4: It's getting interesting.
Small numbers are harmonious, Pythagoras said. Then he would have likes this one: 4/5
You can make a beautiful harmony with these tones:
Let's ignore Pythagoras for a moment: here are some bigger numbers: 8/9.
This does indeed sound less pleasant. That's okay. If we want to tell a story with tones, we also need tones that are less fun. Otherwise, it's not a story.
Let's look for another small number ratio near 1/2. 3/5 is something like that.
These happen to be the notes that Guido d'Arezzo found worth remembering.
His fellow monks were just not singing the same when they chanted the Gregorian chants,
he thought. As a mnemonic, he set an existing hymn to music. Each line began with the next note in the sequence. He named the tones after the first two letters of the line of poetry. And he figured out a way to write it down.
What do you say? Don't you understand those black things?
This way you can find the newly conceived tones in it.
In the centuries that followed, Guido's idea was tinkered with:
- 'Ut'? That doesn't sing well, does it? How about 'Do'?
- Between 3/5 and 1/2 there is absolutely nothing at all.
Can we think of anything else there?
- And what shall we call it? 'Si'? of 'Sanctus Ioannus'?
no, 'Sol' starts with an 'S'. We do 'Ti'.
- By the way, 'Sol'? All other names are two letters: So, eh.. 'So'.
And so came the final note in the famous series Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do.
Again, this tone doesn't have an easy ratio, but it goes so well with the 1/2. Try it:
In the 'doremi'-section you saw how these tone-stripes came on the fretboard.
That's useful, because you want to know where to place your fingers. I have also indicated Guido's tone names.
You may notice that we haven't striped half of the string.
Now, let's see that half string as a string in itself.
We're just going to chop this one in do-re-minions as well. I'll show you.
That's more like it.
Now what if I want to take the tone 'So' as the starting tone?
That may happen, you never know. So, where are do the doremi-stripes?
I say: let's place the doremi-stripes for the 'So' as well.
All right. That's going to be a mess.
Maybe that's why you never see a violinist with stripes on the violin.
But we're not violinists,
So bring on the stripes for the other tones.
And yes.. The mess looks complete.
But, if you look closely, you can see that the stripes are often in the same places.
How about us taking the plunge and draw our own lines?
How about this?? Thanks to Simon Stevin, who did the math.
A layout that floats between all possible tones: 'Equally temperamented'
One drawback: a violin with frets: it never became really popular.
But this instrument did.
And you hardly hear that the tones are not correct everywhere.
Nothing that a good distortion couldn't fix.
I tidied up a bit.
Now you see that there are not only the 6 or 7 tones of Guido: there are 12 tones.
'You have to find the other notes yourself,' Louis Armstrong said.
It looks like we're going to find 'm.
I'll have the colors of the new tones look a bit like what's nearby. .
Of course, new tones: new names. What would Guido do?
Let's stay close to Guido,
Each new tone simply becomes the inverse of the succeeding tone.
Of course, other names are possible.
How about just numbering the whole bit?
Or, if you're used to 'Doremi', let's only number these notes.
Then again: what to do with the others?
Here's what we'll do: a 'b' in front of it.
Just think: the b of 'below' or 'Behold, for this note is lower!'
You can read more about all the tones below.
I shall call this note: 'Ut'. (Church Fathers: Good job, Guido, we call it 'Do'.)
Classic musicians:
We stick to Latin to number the notes: 'prime'. The Root note, R, the basic note, Tonic
Here:
We call it: 'Do' and sometimes 'One', 1
Guitarists:
Open string, position 0
What does it sound like?
The first tone you hear gives a great feeling of inner peace.
Of course we can't live without that, but also, no offence, it does get a bit boring and monotonous at some point.
What color should we take?
A color that provides such a soothing effect: what else than: green
What song starts with it?
With 'One note samba' Antonio Carlos Jobim gets a long way with a one-note melody.
He can't persist: other notes are bound to follow.
An example of a good start with an octave is good old (Somewhere) Over The Rainbow, from The Wizard of Oz:
Shines in scale:
The Major scale, Doremifa Solati. If you look for a new tone to end on in any
scale, most often, you end up with a note that happens to be the root
of a major scale.
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The 1st tone is the root of tones. The combination 1st-3th-5th is the root of the chords. All other chords are named after what they change to the root chord.
What's with this 2th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
15/16th string.
Guido:
This is a wrongly sung 'Re'. Here at gitaartoonladders.nl, they call it 'Er'
Classic musicians:
Flat two, lower second
Here:
Most times we call it 'Er' and sometimes 'Be Two', b2
Guitarists:
Position 1
What does it sound like?
In a melody: sinister, mysterious, ethereal. Arabic and Spanish music like to use this tone.
In harmony: let's say: 'very dissonant.
What color should we take?
In tribute to North-African music : sand-colored
What song starts with it?
Caravan, Duke Ellington:
and Misirlou of Chubby Checker show the North-African.
Shines in scale:
The b2 shines in the Phrygian scale: the normal minor scale, but with a 'lower 2'
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The b2 in the same chord aside the root note, that doesn't seem to work out. The b2 one octave higher, that works fine. If you shold continue counting after 8, b2 is called b9.
What's with this 3th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
8/9 th string
Guido:
Re
Classic musicians:
Two sharp, or 'super-tonic' as in the major scale it's the next note from the tonic.
Here:
We call it: 'Re' and sometimes 'Two', 2. Also: Ray, a flock of golden sun.
Guitarists:
Position 2
What does it sound like?
firm, logical next step, but a bit boring
What color should we take?
A solid note goes with an solid earth color:
What song starts with it?
Strangers in the Night, Frank Sinatra, starts with it:
And of course Do re mi from the musical 'Sound of Music':
Shines in scale:
As a 2nd tone, the appearance is a bit faded. Except when after reaching the eighth tone,
you move on to the 9th tone, aka 2'. Then it's spectacular. It's like hitting the Kop van Jut,
and the bell flies off. For example, in the scale that is often used by BB King,
also known as the BB King Bluesbox:
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The Sus2 (1-2-5)-chord: The 3 gets suspended, and in its place comes the 2.
and add9: (1-3-5-9). The 2, but an octave higher enriches the chord as a 9.
What's with this 4th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
5/6 th snaar.
Guido:
This is a wrongly sung 'Mi'.
Classic musicians:
Three flat, lower third, minor 3
Here:
We call it : 'Im'and sometimes b3 'Be Three')
Guitarists:
Position 3
What does it sound like?
a bit sad, melancholic
What color should we take?
What could be more melancholic than a pink rabbit?
What song starts with it?
For centuries, 'Greensleeves' has been using the b3 to set the tone.
Shines in scale:
De minor /Aelion scale is home-base of the minor third
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
Minor chord: 1-b3-5
What's with this 5th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
4/5 th string
Guido:
Mi
Classic musicians:
Third sharp, Major 3
Here:
We call it : 'Mi'and sometimes 3 ('Three'). Also A name I call myself
Guitarists:
Position 4
What does it sound like?
Optimistic, bright, it's a happy tone
What color should we take?
Optimists see the world through pink-colored glasses. This makes the choice of color quite easy:
What song starts with it?
The optimistic 'When the saints',
Shines in scale:
De major /Ionian scale is home-base of the major third // EN
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The 3 is lined up in the major chord 1-3-5
What's with this 6th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
3/4 th string
Guido:
Fa
Classic musicians:
Four, or perfect fourth. Also 'Sub-dominant' as it's a the distance of a Dominant tone under the Tonic.
Here:
We call it: 'fa' and sometimes 4 ('Four'). Also: A long long way to run
Guitarists:
Position 5
What does it sound like?
Solid follow-up, solemn, firm, fiery
What color should we take?
Solid green, from the camouflage colors of the army
What song starts with it?
Amazing Grace
Mairi's Wedding:
Shines in scale:
The forth is almost always there. He only stands out when he is not there, as in the Major Blues Ladder.
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The Suspended 4 -chord (Sus4): Prescription: Take the base 1-3-5 chord. 'Suspend' the 3rd note. Put the 4 in it: 1-4-5. Eat it.
What's with this 7th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
5/7 th string
Guido:
This is a wrongly sung 'So'. No doubt, here at gitaartoonladders.nl it wil be: 'Os'. How about 'Little So (and so)?'
Classic musicians:
Diminished 5, b5, Tritonus. augmented 4,
#4, Blues classics: The Blue note
Here:
We call it: 'Os' and sometimes b5 ('Be Five')
Guitarists:
Position 6
What does it sound like?
Uncomfortable, but also heavenly:
What color should we take?
Being a blue note could inspire the color-choice. The Simpsons offer us a heavenly blue.
What song starts with it?
Maria, from Westside story
but also in the first notes of The Simpsons:
Shines in scale:
De tritone shines in de Lydian scale.
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
but as 'blue note' also in the minor blues scale:
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
Dim chord: Reduce, diminish, the 5 in 1-3-5 just a bit, and have a very exciting chord.
What's with this 8th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
Een 2/3e snaar.
Guido:
So
Classic musicians:
Perfect 5th. Dominant, beacause it's such firm note with the Tonic.
Here:
We call it : 'So' and sometimes 5 ('Five'). Also: A needle following thread.
Guitarists:
Position 7
What does it sound like?
Like the much brighter, cheerful, radiant version of the root note. A question that invites you to answer the keynote
What color should we take?
The radiant version of something, we have an image of that.
What song starts with it?
God Rest ye merry, Gentlemen
Are you going to Scarborough fair
Shines in scale:
The perfect fifth, BFF of the Tonic, shines when he's so missed: in the Locrian scale
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The 'Powerchord': 1-5. Who needs a 3?
What's with this 9th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
5/8 th string.
Guido:
Whatever. Let me guess: 'Al'?
Classic musicians:
minor 6th or six flat
Here:
We call it : 'Al' and sometimes b6 ('Be six')
Guitarists:
Position 8
What does it sound like?
emotional, passionate, sad
What color should we take?
Pleasant, but not overpowering
What song starts with it?
'Close Every Door' from the musical 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat':
Shines in scale:
The minor 6th shines in the Bebop Major scale
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The Augmented chord: Increase, augment, the 5 from 1-3-5 to 1-3-b6.
Below you can see it pictured. All the tones are the distance of the 3 from each other.
What's with this 10th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
3/5 th string
Guido:
La
Classic musicians:
Six sharp, Major sixth
Here:
We call it : 'La' and sometimes6 ('six'), Also A note to follow So
Guitarists:
Position 9
What does it sound like?
Quirky
What color should we take?
If anyone is quirky, it's Willy Wonka.
What song starts with it?
My Bonnie lies over the ocean:
Shines in scale:
The Major sixth shines in the Dorian scale.
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The add 6 chord: (1-3-5-6): add the 6.
What's with this 11th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
9/16 string
Guido:
Huh? It's a new tone for me, so I'll go with 'It'
Classic musicians:
Flat seven, Minor seventh, also: The sub-tonic: it's lower than the tonic
Here:
We call it : 'It' and sometimes b7 ('Be Seven')
Guitarists:
Position 10
What does it sound like?
Dissonant, dominant
What color should we take?
Since it's a dominant sound: red
What song starts with it?
Somewhere / There's A Place For Us uit Westside story:
Shines in scale:
De sub-tonic shines in the Myxolidian scale
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The 7-chord: 1-3-5-b7
What's with this 12th tone?
What's it called?
Pythagoras:
8/15 th string
Guido:
Huh? (Church fathers: It's a 'Ti')
Classic musicians:
Seven sharp, It's also called the leading tone', because it seems to push to play the tonic.
Here:
We call it : 'Ti' and sometimes 7 ('Seven'). Also it's what you drink with jam and bread.
Guitarists:
Position 11
What does it sound like?
A mysterious tone, leading, longing, to the tonic,
What color should we take?
Red, but softer, mysterious, leading to something: That must be a red morning sky.
What song starts with it?
Norah Jones - Don't Know Why:
Shines in scale:
The seven shines in the Harmonic Minor scale. Your daily minor scale, just untill you reach the 7.
do-er-re-im-mi-fa-os-so-al-la-it-ti
Shines in chord:
The major seven chord, 1-3-5-7:
~~~ God gave us 12 notes, it’s the same 12 notes that Duke Ellington had, that Bach had, Nina Simone...
... I’m thankful to God for those 12 notes. (Jon Batiste) ~~~
