DIATONIC CHORDS IN MAJOR AND MINOR KEYS

Chapter 4

Tonal Music

Major Triad

Minor Triad

Diminished Triad

Augmented Triad

Major Seven

Minor Seven

Major Minor Seven

Half Diminished Seven

Fully Diminished Seven

Tonal Music is a system of music where hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a center pitch called a tonic.

HierarchyA system where objects are placed

at levels above or below other objects.

Musical Hierarchy

The importance of

TONIC

Listen: Her Majesty by the Beatles

Chords in Tonal Music

Chords made up only from the notes of the scale

i.e. All Diatonic Chords in the key of C major would ONLY have white keys

Chords that may use notes not from the scale.

Diatonic Chords Altered Chords / Chromatic Chords

Before we compose with these chords, we are going to learn how to recognize them.

Return to scales for a moment….

Harmonic Natural Melodic

Yo the major scale

Minor Scale Major Scale

A unified minor scale

How composers use the various forms…

D natural minor – D E F G A Bb C D harmonic -- D E F G A Bb C# D melodic -- D E F G A B C# D

When to use raised/lowered 6 and 7

More natural to raise 6 and 7 going up (ascending)

A single raised 7 indicates a return to the tonic (usually)

More natural to lower 6 and 7 going down (descending)

Raised Lowered

Let’s look at an example…..

Mozart Phantasie No. 2 and No. 3

First look at No. 2

What is the key signature? What major key would this be? What minor key would this be?

Are there any accidentals? How we know its minor….

Accidentals Starting and ending harmonies