Hi yall,

My approach to teaching 3 & 4-chord trick is to use the methods listed above using 1,4,5 and flattened 6 for the relative minor. This has even worked with a seven-year-old(with the help of cardboard rotating Chordfinder).

The intervals on the scale I teach as: tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semitone

This seems to work as well. My website gives it in table form. http://Tim_Canniffe.tripod.com/theory1.htm

As for why some music sounds good and some bad, my science experience agrees with all that has been said, but I always use my Psycho-Acoustic theory of music, which I shall expound on some day but it includes the following points:

- The fifth chord with a seventh always needs resolution to the fourth or the first chord.

- A suspended 4th is a handy way of building tension

- Even tone-deaf people will always notice when your guitar is out of tune!

Keep up the thread, it's very enjoyable and informative

TIM