Harmonized Major Scale with Melody On Top Confusion

[boarini2003]

I purchased the Chord Melody course, which is fantastic and I am thoroughly enjoying and absorbing every page. I do have a music theory question about it, and I don't know if this is the correct place to ask:


On page 40, the G Major scale is harmonized with the melody note on top. Here are my questions:


1. If you harmonize a major scale you should get I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, iidim chords, however these chords don't follow this formula, yet they still sound correct. Why is this?


2. Some chords are labelled major, such as the second chord which is a Gmaj9. But the second chord in a major scale should be minor. However this sounds minor, and it looks like an inversion of a Bm7 chord. On top of this, Bm7 should be the iii chord, not the ii chord, as shown here!

See image below. Thanks for any help!

[AllanAllen]

Except for the first one, it's not the root on top.

Like Jim said, this is a bunch of Gmaj chords with a different note from the major scale on top.

[Bop Head]

Except for the first one, it's not the root on top.

Like Jim said, this is a bunch of Gmaj chords with a different note from the major scale on top.

G is the root of G major. G is found on the E strings on the third fret.

[AllanAllen]

G is the root of G major. G is found on the E strings on the third fret.

Correct, the only chord in the diagram with that note is the first one. So this is not a harmonized major scale with the root on top. The root is only on top in the first chord.

[wolflen]

I purchased the Chord Melody course, which is fantastic and I am thoroughly enjoying and absorbing every page. I do have a music theory question about it, and I don't know if this is the correct place to ask:


On page 40, the G Major scale is harmonized with the root on top. Here are my questions:


1. If you harmonize a major scale you should get I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, iidim chords, however these chords don't follow this formula, yet they still sound correct. Why is this?


2. Some chords are labelled major, such as the second chord which is a Gmaj9. But the second chord in a major scale should be minor. However this sounds minor, and it looks like an inversion of a Bm7 chord. On top of this, Bm7 should be the iii chord, not the ii chord, as shown here!

I can see your confusion..

This is a Collection of G Major chords each having a SCALE note as the "root" ..OK this is not the correct term..it should be called TOP NOTE..

so I would call this exercise...

A collection of G Major chord forms with each top note ( soprano voice) a diatonic scale degree

see if that makes more sense

[Bop Head]

I can see your confusion..

This is a Collection of G Major chords each having a SCALE note as the "root" ..OK this is not the correct term..it should be called TOP NOTE..

so I would call this exercise...

A collection of G Major chord forms with each top note ( soprano voice) a diatonic scale degree

see if that makes more sense

The top note is the most important note because that notes are the notes lay(wo)men not trained on inner voices are gonna hear as the obvious melody.

[rpjazzguitar]

When you play chord melody you are given a chord and a melody note.

This lesson shows how to play a G major type of chord with any note from the G major scale on top. Useful to know for chord melody.

"G major type" refers to chords that can generally substitute for G major. So, it's a G triad with the 6, 9, or major seventh somewhere in the chord. One chord requires an 11th.

[garybaldy]

I purchased the Chord Melody course, which is fantastic and I am thoroughly enjoying and absorbing every page. I do have a music theory question about it, and I don't know if this is the correct place to ask:


On page 40, the G Major scale is harmonized with the root on top. Here are my questions:


1. If you harmonize a major scale you should get I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, iidim chords, however these chords don't follow this formula, yet they still sound correct. Why is this?


2. Some chords are labelled major, such as the second chord which is a Gmaj9. But the second chord in a major scale should be minor. However this sounds minor, and it looks like an inversion of a Bm7 chord. On top of this, Bm7 should be the iii chord, not the ii chord, as shown here!

See image below. Thanks for any help!

The image you attached does not suggest it's the harmonized G major scale with the root on top.

[boarini2003]

The image you attached does not suggest it's the harmonized G major scale with the root on top.

I apologize, that was a typo. I meant the melody note on top, not the root. I edited the original post to reflect this.

[va3ux]

Is this the course from this website ?

[boarini2003]

Yes.

[Jimmy Smith]

This is how my teacher, Tony Monaco, taught me the most basic way to approach chord melody. Beyond that are subs, inner movement, BH, etc, but this is really the bread and butter. Just melody note on top with whatever most convenient chord inversion below of the chord in the progression you're on, no trickery.

[Lionelsax]

On C major

Ascending
C G7 C F C F G C

Descending
C G D7 G G7 C G7 C