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Riddim Up Harmony · Exercise 1 · Key of C major

The C Major Scale in Thirds

Harmonising a scale in thirds means pairing every note with the note two letters above it: C with E, D with F, E with G, and so on. Every pair is either a major third or a minor third. Here they all are, from C on fret 3 up to C on fret 10.

The scale in thirds

M3C–E m3D–F m3E–G M3F–A M3G–B m3A–C m3B–D M3C–E

The pattern in any major key is always the same: major, minor, minor, major, major, minor, minor, then major again at the octave.

The two shapes

Play the root, then go up to the next string for the third. The shape tells you which kind of third it is. On a single string you just count frets instead: 4 frets up for a major third, 3 for a minor third, as in E–G on the D string.

Major third

Next string up, 1 fret back. Root with your 2nd finger, third with your 1st finger.

Minor third

Next string up, 2 frets back. Root with your 3rd finger, third with your 1st finger.

The whole neck

Tap any note to hear it on its own. All eight pairs, climbing from C on the A string (fret 3) to C on the D string (fret 10). C–E and D–F start on the A string. E–G runs along the D string, and every pair after that starts on the D string with its third on the G string. Lines join each root to its third. Tap a pair below to pick it out, or play the whole scale.

RootMajor thirdMinor third
Play pairs:

Pair by pair

Tap a note on any card to hear it on its own, or press Play to hear the pair. The "Play pairs" switch above sets whether the two notes sound together or one after the other.

Good to know