Category: Music Theory 103

  • Major Scales

    Construction Using Tetrachords Combine two major tetrachords that begin a P5 apart: Spelling on Seconds Memorize the pattern of seconds in major and use a piano keyboard: Use the Circle of Fourths Complementary Scales Complementary scales start on the same letter, but have opposing accidentals. Using the following chart makes it so that one only has…

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  • The Circle of Fourths

    Circle of Fourths Represents the possible tonics of all major keys using only naturals, sharps, and flats 12 spokes Travelling clockwise, each spoke is a P4 above the previous “C” is at the top Three enharmonic keys exist at the bottom of the circle Construction Using the Circle of Fourths Closely Related Keys Keys most…

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  • Intervals, pt. 3

    Rules for Inverting Intervals 1. The RULE OF NINE: Inverted diatonic intervals add up to NINE. 2. Major inverts to minor; minor inverts to major. 3. Perfect inverts to perfect. 4. Augmented inverts to diminished; diminished inverts to augmented. Enharmonic Intervals Intervals that equal the same number of semitones are called enharmonic. They sound the same…

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  • Chromatic Intervals

    Interval Quality Chromaticism in music means that more descriptive intervals names are necessary Families The Interval of a SECOND Belongs to the imperfect family Inverts to sevenths Augmented second (A2) = 3 semitones Major second (M2) = 2 semitones Minor second (m2) = 1 semitone Diminished second (d2) = 0 semitones The Interval of a THIRD…

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  • Meter Boxes and Conducting

    Rhythm System of organized sound and silence Rhythmic notation is based upon proportional relationships Pulse – Regular beating of the arteries Tempo – speed at which something is performed Metronome – Device that beats a pulse at a regular tempo Beat The pulse in music We typically vocalize numbers to count beats. Measures Adding measure…

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  • Seventh Chords

    Common Seventh Chords Seventh chords are named by the quality of the triad and the quality from the root to the seventh. Major-major seventh MM7 Major triad + major seventh Major-minor seventh Mm7 Major triad + minor seventh Minor-minor seventh mm7 Minor triad + minor seventh Minor-major seventh mM7 Minor triad + major seventh Other…

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  • Minor

    Minor vs. Major Every major scale has a relative minor that begins on the 6th scale degree. Note that minor keys are represented by lower case letters. “Minor” is not the same thing as Aeolian mode. There is different chromatic content and a different “sound.” Parallel 9-Tone Minor 13 Triads Produced Minor offers many more…

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  • Intervals

    Interval – the distance between two points of sound We use numbers that represent the quantity of letter names in the sequential NMA that the interval encompasses: The number is the same whether ascending or descending. Drawing Interval Circles Interval circles are a clear way to visually represent diatonic interval relationships Prime Circles Seconds Place…

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  • Fundamentals

    Points of Sound Construction The distance between each line is called a semitone. 12 semitones=one octave Interval-the distance between two points of sound Intervals Two Smallest Smallest: Distance from one point to the next immediate point (right or left) Names: semitone, half-step,minor second Next Smallest: Distance from point point to the 2nd closest point (right or left)…

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  • Standard Notation

    The Staff Staff-system of visually organizing musical pitch using lines and spaces Plural-staves Made up of 5 lines and 4 spaces. Compare to the human hand – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guidonian_hand Lines and spaces are numbered from the bottom to the top. Measure Lines Measure Lines(barlines)-Vertical lines dividing the staff into ‘measured’ units Different weights have different meanings. Note…

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