5.26Same melody note, three emotions

Play a G in your right hand.

Hold it.

Underneath, play:

C major

Then:

Em

Then:

G7

Same G.

But its role changes.

Over C:

G = fifth

Over Em:

G = minor third

Over G7:

G = root

This is one of the deepest ideas in harmony:

A note does not have one emotional meaning by itself. Its meaning depends on the chord underneath it.