Music Theory

[potty64]

Playing C#, E and G at the same time creates which chord? Forget A7th - it's got to be another chord ( I think!) Could it be an inverted augmented 6th on E minor? No other notes sound right with these three notes. Any ideas?

[saxy_jag]

C# dim?

[Milvus]

Agree with SJ. Could also be written D♭dim.

[jeffa]

They may sound the same, but C#dim and D♭dim aren't the same chord in musical theory.

[The Builder]

Being picky ........... a C# diminished chord should properly include Bb (B-flat)

I guess it's a C# Dim Triad, or even a C#min b5 (C# minor flat five)

[jeffa]

A C# chord, diminished or otherwise, can not include Bb or any other flat note!

[The Builder]

Relax jeffa ;o)

A# then ................ the notes are enharmonic. It's just that, in Jazz, it's traditional to play in flat keys. Enharmonic notes are often stated in their flat version.

[potty64]

Thank you all for a positive reply and analysis! The Bb sounds good with the other 3 irrespective of whether or not it's theoretically correct! All notes are correct in jazz someone said! I'm actually playing Nina Simones 'The Work Song' in G major so I think it would be correct to call the chord C# dim and not Db dim. Hey Ho. It's good. Thx.

[Matheous-2]

While not claiming to have any great knowledge of music harmony- I always thought any note in a diminished 7th could be a 'root' note? Or is that irrelevant ? I can't see Jeffa's thing about flat notes.....

[potty64]

I think you're right Matheous. You can have tonic, 1st, 2nd and 3rd inversions on a diminished chord. As regards Jeffa's remark about flats & sharps, you can have both in the written music but obviously not in the key signature.