Music Theory

Chapter 1 : Elements of Pitch

Chapter One – Elements of Pitch

• Pitch: the highness or lowness of a sound– ‘Middle C’ - C4– From any C to the

next C is called an octave

– All pitches from any C to the next B are in the same octave register

Notation on the staff• Music like an x and y axis

– X = time– Y = pitch

• Staff : indicate the precise pitch desired, consists of 5 lines and 4 spaces

• Ledger Lines : extend the staff indefinitely

• Clef : indicate which pitches are to be associated with which lines and spaces

• Grand Staff : combination of two staves (bass and treble)

*Self Test 1-1

The Major Scale

• Major Scale : specific pattern of steps (whole and half) encompassing an octave– W W H W W W H

• Half step : the distance from any key to the next adjacent key on the piano (also C-C#)

• Whole step : any key skipping a key to the next on the piano (also C-D)

• Tetrachords : four-note pattern that make up the major scale

AccidentalsWhat does each symbol represent?

The Major Key Signatures(circle of fifths)

The Major Key Signatures

• Key Signatures : pattern of sharps or flats that appears at the beginning of a staff, indicates consistently raised or lowered notes

• Key : identifies the first degree of a scale• Enharmonic : notes/keys that are spelled differently

but sound the same • Transpositions : keys that are not enharmonic, to

change from original key• Order of sharps : FCGDAEB• Order of flats : BEADGCF

Checkpoint

• Does G3 lie below or above middle C?• How is a double sharp notated?• Half steps in the major scale occur between

scale degrees _____ and ______ as well as between scale degrees _____ and ____.

• The major scale consists of two identical four-note patterns called ________.

*Self-test 1-2

Minor Scales

• Three types of minor scales– Natural Minor : as the notes occur naturally in the

minor key signature• Compared to Major scale: lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th

– Harmonic Minor : same with a raised 7th scale degree

– Melodic Minor : raised 6th and 7th scale degrees on the way up, and natural on the way down

Aural Skills Intro

• Identify the following scales as 1. MAJOR2. NATURAL MINOR3. HARMONIC MINOR4. MELODIC MINOR

Major and Minor Relationships

• Relatives : share exact same key signature• Parallels : share tonic note, different key

signatures

*Self-test 1-3

Scale Degree Names

• Rather than numbers, musicians refer to scale degrees by traditional names:

KNOW THESE WELL!

Intervals

• Intervals : measurement of the distance between two notes

• Harmonic intervals : sounding at the same time• Melodic intervals : notes played successively • IMPORTANT: There are two parts to any

interval name: the numerical number and the modifier that precedes the numerical name. – i.e. M6 (“Major Sixth”) etc.

*Self-test 1-4

Intervals: Perfect, Major, minor

• Perfect : used only in connection with unisons, 4th, 5th, and 8ves (and their compounds).

• Major and minor : refers to 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th

• Augmented : any P or M interval made larger by half step (abbreviated +)

• Diminished : any P or m interval made smaller by half step (abbreviated ø or o)

*Self-test 1-5

AURAL SKILLS

• Identify the following intervals as consonant or dissonant:

• Identify the following intervals (P1, P8, P4, P5):• Identify the following intervals (M2, M3, M6, M7):• Identify the following intervals (m2, m3, m6, m7):• Identify the following intervals (P1, P8, D4, P4, A4,

D5, P5, A5):• Identify the following intervals (all):

Inversion of intervals

• Sometimes it is easier to spell and identify large descending intervals through Interval inversion

• 1 = 8• 2 = 7• 3 = 6• 4 = 5• 5 = 4• 6 = 3• 7 = 2• 8 = 1 • Always remember to “change your sign” (modifier)

Consonant VS Dissonant Intervals

• Consonant : pleasing to the ear• Dissonant : unpleasing to the ear

Which intervals do we consider to be consonant? … dissonant?

Checkpoint

1. What is the term for an interval in which the notes are played in succession instead of simultaneously?

2. Is there such a thing as a m5? A P6?3. A perfect interval made a half step smaller without

changing its numerical name become____.4. A diminished 5 becomes a ___.5. Intervals that are relatively displeasing to the ear

are_____.

CHAPTER 1

• Review and Test• Written• Aural