how do you make a chord a third

Elderly Man

i got asked today if i can change chords to thirds, like his words were "if i give you a progression, like BM, A, G, can you make them thirds?" how do i do this

justam

A third is an interval.

Chords in root position have two. One between the bottom note and the middle note and one between the middle note and the top note.


So, in answer to his question, you can leave off the top note to make a chord into a third. For example, in an A chord, you'd leave off the "e" and keep A and C# to form a third.

nocode198

Yeah justam is correct. A major chord is made up of 1st 3rd and 5th. So if you want to make a chord into a 3rd, then take off the 5th.