So I have a stoopid question

  • Thread starter Thread starter philb
  • Start date Start date
philb
philb
New member
I often read about mode expressed like "I" or "IV".
I figured it's a roman numeral of something but what? :?

Thanks
 
I = Tonic
II = Supertonic
III = Mediant
IV = Sub-Dominant
V = Dominant
VI = Sub-Mediant
VII = Leading/Subtonic

More info here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatonic_function
 
If you have a harmonizrd scale...say C major
Cmaj7-Dm7-Em7-Fmaj7-G7-Am7-Bm7b5
you get in Roman numerals...
Imaj7-iim7--iiim7-IVmaj7-v7-vim7-viim7b5

Now say you'd have a a progression where you go from Ab7 to G7 to Cmaj. It woul be VI7-V7-I

Or in a Blues you got I-IV-V
caps denotes major, lower case minor.
 
Hey thanks for the replies and the information. More reading to go!!!
 
degenaro":e44a8 said:
If you have a harmonizrd scale...say C major
Cmaj7-Dm7-Em7-Fmaj7-G7-Am7-Bm7b5
you get in Roman numerals...
Imaj7-iim7--iiim7-IVmaj7-v7-vim7-viim7b5

Now say you'd have a a progression where you go from Ab7 to G7 to Cmaj. It woul be VI7-V7-I

Or in a Blues you got I-IV-V
caps denotes major, lower case minor.
Click to expand...


Yup, I've seen that I-IV-V notation before, that's the one I remembered.
 
Roman numerals are generally reserved for harmonic analysis. I've only ever seen modes labelled with the actual names (ionian, dorian, etc).

As stated, upper case roman numerals are major:

I, IV, V

Lower case denotes minor:

ii, iii, vi

Upper case with a superscript + represents augmented:

III+ (don't know how to make it superscript)

Lower case with a superscript o is for diminished:

viio, iio (again, the "o" should be superscript)

These represent the four types of triads that are possible. Two perfect fifths, one diminished fifth, and one augmented fifth. There are other nomenclature to allow for sevenths, ninths, elevenths, and thirteenths as well, but are a bit harder to type out here.
 
Randy Van Sykes":85bfd said:
BTW there are no stupid questions here Phil. ;)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know but it's still a bit...humbling to ask no?
 
philb":4e132 said:
Yeah, I know but it's still a bit...humbling to ask no?
Click to expand...

haha, i know the feeling. sometimes my mechanic tells me whats wrong with my car and i pretend i know what hes talking about :?
 
philb":ea08d said:
Yeah, I know but it's still a bit...humbling to ask no?
Click to expand...
no :)

I'm sure alot of people are starting from near ground zero as far as theory goes.

Mostly my ears got me this far...I'm sure alot of us are like that.

I feel I need to learn more theory now to get ahead and grow.
 
Randy Van Sykes":c703e said:
no :)

I'm sure alot of people are starting from near ground zero as far as theory goes.

Mostly my ears got me this far...I'm sure alot of us are like that.

I feel I need to learn more theory now to get ahead and grow.
Click to expand...

Well, that's me alright :)
I learned all that stuff by ear, listening and mainly feeling my way through. It's all good Adam and I agree with you that theory to explain certain things is good after a while.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
 
Back
Top