So I have a stoopid question

[philb]

I often read about mode expressed like "I" or "IV".
I figured it's a roman numeral of something but what? :?

Thanks

 

[Code001]

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

 

[degenaro]

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.

 

[philb]

Hey thanks for the replies and the information. More reading to go!!!

 

[philb]

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.

Yup, I've seen that I-IV-V notation before, that's the one I remembered.

 

[Digital Jams]

I was too embarrassed to ask, thankss Phil

 

[jasonpiano25]

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.

 

[The Big Snit]

So I have a stoopid question

BTW there are no stupid questions here Phil.

 

[philb]

BTW there are no stupid questions here Phil.

Yeah, I know but it's still a bit...humbling to ask no?

 

[Stratboy151]

Yeah, I know but it's still a bit...humbling to ask no?

haha, i know the feeling. sometimes my mechanic tells me whats wrong with my car and i pretend i know what hes talking about :?

 

[The Big Snit]

Yeah, I know but it's still a bit...humbling to ask no?

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.

 

[philb]

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.

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.