PIANOS/KEYBOARDSNotes, Scales and Intervals

NOTES/PITCH

A-B-C-D-E-F-G

KEYS ON THE PIANO

On the keyboard you will notice white keys and black keys The black keys have a pattern of 2s and 3s All “C”s are to the immediate left of the set of 2 black keys

Middle C (which lies between the treble clef and bass clef in the grand staff) can be found in the middle of the keyboard, directly to the left of the middle set of two black keys

SHARPS AND FLATS

Sharps and flats are generally going to be found on the black keys, except in those spots where there is no black key between two white keys.

Sharps raise the pitch Flats lower the pitch

INTERVALS

Intervals are simply defined as the distance between two notes Half steps

Jaws theme

Whole Steps Happy Birthday

MAJOR INTERVALS

Intervals are all about addition! Think in half steps Major 2nd = 2 half steps (or 1 whole step) Major 3rd = 4 half steps (or 2 whole steps) Perfect 4th = 6 half steps (or 3 whole steps) Perfect 5th = 8 half steps (or 4 whole steps) Major 6th = 10 half steps (or 5 whole steps) Major 7th = 12 half steps (or 6 whole steps)

MINOR INTERVALS

Even more addition! Minor 2nd = 1 half step Minor 3rd = 3 half steps (or 1&1/2 whole steps) Tritone = 5 half steps (center of the octave) (or 2&1/2 whole steps) Minor 6th = 7 half steps (or 3&1/2 whole steps) Minor 7th = 9 half steps (or 4&1/2 whole steps)

MAJOR SCALES

Scales are comprised of a particular series of whole and half steps A major scale is developed from this formula:

W-W-H-W-W-W-H

If you start on C, your notes for the major scale are CDEFGABC

You can figure out a major scale from any note using the major scale formula listed above. (WWHWWWH)

If you start on “A”, you would have a major scale that looks like this: A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#-A

GROUP WORK

In each group, you will be given two notes Take each note and build a major scale off of it using the formula we

just talked about. Choose two leaders from each group. These two people will play the

scales your group just constructed.

*Remember, a large portion of your grade in this class is participation, so make sure you contribute!

WORKSHEETS

Pick a Partner Interval Identification worksheets will be given out. You may work

with a partner on these worksheets. If time allows, we will go over these worksheets in class.

WORKSHEETS CONT.

Once the worksheets are corrected you may keep them to study for your next test.