Theory Fundamentals

The first + last notes of a scale

TONIC

Second note of a scale

SUPERTONIC

The third note of a scale

MEDIANT

The fourth note of a scale

SUBDOMINANT

The fifth note of the scale

DOMINANT

The sixth note of a scale

SUBMEDIANT

The seventh note in a natural minor of a scale is

SUBTONIC

The seventh note in a harmonic/melodic minor (half step below the tonic) is

LEADING TONE

How to find harmonic minor scale in a key?

Take the natural minor and raise the 7th note by a semitone (same descending)

How to find Melodic minor

Raise both the sixth and seventh notes by a half step when going up but NOT going down. go back to the natural minor notes when coming down

How many distinct perfect fifths are there

Six perfect fifths (not between B and F because it only has 6 semitones not 7)

Stem direction for quarter notes

When the note is on or below the second space of the staff » right and points up

When the note is on or above the third line of the staff, the stem goes to the left and points down.

Major Scale sequence

Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Whole, Half

Natural Minor scale sequence

Whole, Half, Whole, Whole, Half, Whole, Whole

How to find natural minor keys

find the minor keys relative major with the same key signature (three semitones up)

An interval where the two notes occur simultaneously

harmonic interval

An interval where the notes occur one after the other

Melodic interval

Intervals smaller than an octave are called

simple intervals

Intervals larger than an octave are called

compound intervals (which contain simple intervals)

Which intervals are consonant?

Perfect unisons, fifths, and octaves and major/minor thirds or sixths

Which intervals are dissonant?

Seconds and sevenths and all diminished/augmented intervals

Which interval could be both consonant or dissonant depending on context?

Perfect fourth

What is the roman numeral for tonic (first of three major triads)

I

What is the roman numeral for the supertonic (minor triad)

ii

What is the roman numeral for the Mediant (minor triad)

iii

What is the roman numeral for the Subdominant (major triad)

IV (5 minus 1)

What is the roman numeral for the Dominant (major triad)

V

What is the roman numeral for the Submediant (minor triad)

vi (5 plus 1)

What is the roman numeral for the Leading tone (diminished triad)

vii°

What is a seventh chord?

A triad plus a seventh over its root

Dominant 7th Chord consists of… (7)

Major Triad + Minor Seventh

Major 7th Chords consists of… (M7)

Major Triad + Major Seventh

Minor 7th Chords consists of… (m7)

Minor Triad + Minor Seventh

Half Diminished 7th Chords consists of…(ø7)

Diminished Triad + Minor Seventh

(Full) Diminished 7th Chords consists of…(°7)

Diminished Triad + Diminished Seventh

What is contrary motion?

one voice movies up and the other moves down

What is parallel motion?

two voice move in the same direction and same distance

What is similar motion?

same direction but difference intervals

What is oblique motion?

one voice remains the same (ex: whole note) while the other voice moves up or down

What is stationary motion?

both voices remain on the same note