Twin guitars in thirds in C minor
In C minor, the second guitar plays a third above the first, note by note: C–E♭, D–F, E♭–G, F–A♭, G–B♭, A♭–C, B♭–D. The third is major above E♭, A♭, and B♭ and minor above C, D, F, and G, and the table shows the string and fret of every note on both guitars. When the chord is the dominant (G), the third above G rises from B♭ to B (major third), the leading note of C minor.
The C minor scale with the second voice
Each row is a degree of the C minor scale: the melody note, the second-voice note and the interval between them.
| Degree | Guitar 1 | Guitar 2 | Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | C string 3, fret 5 | E♭ string 3, fret 8 | minor third |
| II | D string 3, fret 7 | F string 3, fret 10 | minor third |
| III | E♭ string 3, fret 8 | G string 2, fret 8 | major third |
| IV | F string 3, fret 10 | A♭ string 2, fret 9 | minor third |
| V | G string 2, fret 8 | B♭ string 1, fret 6 | minor third |
| VI | A♭ string 2, fret 9 | C string 1, fret 8 | major third |
| VII | B♭ string 2, fret 11 | D string 1, fret 10 | major third |
On the staff
The C minor scale going up, with the second voice on the lower staff. The numbers between the staves are the intervals (3 = third, 6 = sixth).
In tab
The C minor scale in thirds for two guitars, in the positions from the table.
Hear it and practise in C minor
The tool below opens with Terezinha de Jesus, in C minor, and the second voice in this style. Change the melody, the style and the key whenever you like.
1. The melody
Melody only: no lyrics.
Type C D E F G A B (or do re mi fa sol la si), # and b for sharp and flat, :2 for 2 beats, :1/2 for half a beat, p for a rest. Without a number, each note goes to the octave closest to the previous one; ' raises it an octave and , lowers it.
Length
Turn it on, wait for a one-bar count-in and sing (or play) the melody in time with the click. Nothing is recorded: the device only writes down the notes.
2. The second voice
Style
Transpose · Range of whoever sings the 1st voice · Chords
E.g. C | G7 | C F | G C. In the choir style, the 2nd voice prefers chord notes on the strong beats.
3. See
Choose, type or sing a melody to start.
The numbers between the staves are the intervals (3 = third, 6 = sixth, 8 = octave). Tap a note in the 1st voice to fix it.
Tab for both guitars and the positions on the fretboard: filled = 1st voice, ring = 2nd voice. The guitar sounds an octave lower than written.
Each staff is written the way the player reads it (already transposed for the instrument). In red: outside the comfortable range.
4. Listen
5. Practise
The app plays one voice and you sing or play the other. Each note lights up green (right), yellow (close) or red. Nothing of your voice is recorded: only the score stays on the device.
I take
Listening
Without headphones, the other voice plays quietly and the microphone ignores anything that matches it. Sing much louder than the phone (or use headphones: it works much better).
Strictness
Result
0 out of 100
With twin guitars, the second guitar plays the same melody a third higher, in the same rhythm and always within the key. The two sound like one wider guitar, and the third changes size with the degree: on the same string, a major third is 4 frets apart and a minor third 3. In C minor, the major ones fall on degrees III, VI, and VII.
The positions in the table are chosen so both guitars play in the same area of the neck, with little hand movement. The guitar sounds an octave lower than written on the staff; the frets are the same.
To play both voices on your own, the tool’s Guitars view has the “One guitar (double stops)” option: the two notes on different strings, at most 4 frets apart.
Other second voices in C minor
In other keys
Frequently asked questions
How do you harmonise two guitars in thirds in C minor?
The second guitar plays the third above each note of the first, always within the key: C–E♭, D–F, E♭–G, F–A♭, G–B♭, A♭–C, B♭–D. Both play the same rhythm.
Where do you play C and the third above on two guitars?
A good position, with both in the same area of the neck: C on string 3, fret 5 and E♭ on string 3, fret 8. The table has the string and fret for every degree of the scale.
Can you play both voices on one guitar?
Yes, as double stops. In the tool’s Guitars view, choose “One guitar (double stops)”: the two voices go on different strings, at most 4 frets apart.