Many famous melodies are built upon the intervals found within a major triad (three-note chord): the tonic (1st degree of the scale), the third (3rd note of the scale), and the fifth (5th note of the scale). The structure of the major triad is essential to understanding the melody of any given composition.
Developing your understanding of a melody involves recognizing the intervals it's made up of. Deconstructing a C-Major triad (three-note chord) is a first step to understanding the connections between melody and harmony. This exercise aims to help you recognize the intervals of an octave, 3rd, and 5th.
You will hear successively the three notes that make up the C-Major triad: C (tonic), E (third), G (fifth).
As you progress in the exercise, try to sing the C major arpeggio in ascending and descending order: C, E, G, C; C, G, E, C.
