The devils third??

[rydog2223]

Watching VH1 last night and Sabbath was on and they were talking about the devils thirds for notes. This may be a dumb question but what is it?? It sounded pretty simple but I didn't catch a glimpse on the neck. Thanks! :RoCkIn

[dkaplowitz]

It's where the upside down cross meets the ankh on your SG's fretboard. :D

[Serious Poo]

It's called the Devil's interval - A tritone or flat 5th. It's basically a pair of stacked minor 3rds. Play E, then play G, then play Bb. Now play E and Bb together. Now play E, G, and Bb all together. Cool, huh?

[rydog2223]

I guess I may need a SG: ). Serious Poo thanks for the info I am very stupid when it comes to theroy and all note postions. I just know how to play(not the best) the guitar. Would it be a open E on the low E and then G on the 3rd fret and then 2nd fret A string?? I don't know if you can but can you show tab?? Thanks for being patient with me being guitarted. Thanks!

[Serious Poo]

On rock solos I hear it a lot in conjunction with pentatonic runs ala Randy Rhoads. Try this:

---8---5----5------------------11~~~~
----------8----8----5----8--\--10~~~~
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[rydog2223]

Cool! Thanks for taking the time to help SP!

[phallout]

Now play E, G, and Bb all together. Cool, huh?


diminished triad:BEER , very cool at the right times!!!!

[decay-o-caster]

The sort of "bronk-brank-bronk-brank" intro to Purple Haze is a pair of tritones.

Of the notes you can hit in western scales, it and the minor second - 1 fret up - are the most dissonant you can play because none of the overtones are the same between the two notes, or that's how I hear the story anyway.

My old theory teacher in high school would tell the same anecdote repeatedly about how Mozart heard an unsupported tritone once and fainted.

The interval is easy to hit because on almost every pair of strings (except third and second) it's one string higher and one fret to the right.