Intervals
The first few tones found in the overtone series sound very harmonious when played together (i.e. combine to form a chord). By measuring the scalic interval between tones, we find the most important intervals of Western tonal harmony:

Tones Interval
C:c Octave
c:g Fifth
g:c' Fourth
c':e' Major Third
e':g' Minor Third

Given a particular scale, the following degrees of that scale produce the above intervals:

I, III, V

These form the basic triad.

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