1-4-7-3-6-2-5-1

A useful way of exploring how a Major key (like C Major) sounds and feels is to wander around the "Diatonic Cycle of 4ths".

"Diatonic" means "within the key" — so here it means within the key of C Major.

"4ths" means a musical interval of a 4th:

- - C to F (C - D - E - F) is a diatonic 4th
  - F to B (F - G - A - B) is a diatonic 4th
  - B to E (E - F - G - A)is a diatonic 4th

"Cycle" in this case means a repeating pattern of "4ths".

In C Major, we learned the C Major Scale as Letters & Numbers:

Letter Names: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C

Numbers: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 1

But in this Cycle of 4ths it would re-ordered as:

Letter Names: C - F - B - E - A - D - G - C

Numbers: 1 - 4 - 7 - 3 - 6 - 2 - 5 - 1

CYCLE OF 4THS: WITH 2-3-3

The cycle of 4ths in C Major, using the 2-3-3 format.

CYCLE OF 4THS: WANDERING

This the cycle of 4ths in C Major, wandering around the fretboard (breaking out of the 2-3-3 format.)

Also, the 2-3-3 format is useful for playing modes/scales, but not as user friendly when it come to adding other intervals (i.e. starting to add harmonic language)

CYCLE OF 4THS: ADD A 3RD

The cycle of 4ths in C Major — but with a Diatonic 3rd added above or below each note. We can refer to this 2-note combination as a "Diad".

A "Diad" is 2 notes, as opposed to a "Triad" meaning 3 notes.

A "Diad" is also just an interval (between two pitches), but it can help to think of it as a small chord too!

CYCLE OF 4THS: WANDERING WITH 3RDS

Wandering around the cycle of 4ths in C Major with a Diatonic 3rd added above or below each note.

CYCLE OF 4THS: ADD A 3RD + ADD A 5TH

The cycle of 4ths in C Major Diads — but with an Diatonic 5th added above or below each diad.

A "Triad" meaning 3 notes is commonly considered to be stacked 3rds (i.e. C - E - G, D - F - A, E - G - B, etc.), but you can also think of it as three pitches played together like C - F - G or C - D - G.

CYCLE OF 4THS: WANDERING WITH 3RDS AND 5THS

Wandering around the cycle of 4ths in C Major with a Diatonic 3rd and a Diatonic 5th added above or below each Diad.

On the guitar, 3-note chords are pretty nimble and easy to move around.

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