Music Theory Review

MUSC 550 Terms/Definitions for Placement Exam

Meter

includes simple/compound and number of beats (duple, triple, quad)

Treble Clef Range (Lowest line to Highest line)

E to F

Bass Clef Range (Lowest line to Highest line)

G to A

Tenor Clef Range (Lowest line to highest line)

D to E

Alto Clef Range (lowest line to highest)

F to G

Major Key

Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Whole - Half

Natural Minor Key

3rd, 6th and 7th lowered/flattened

Harmonic Minor Key

Sharpened 7th Key of Natural Minor (i.e. lowered, 3rd and 6th)

Melodic Minor

Sharpened 6th/7th (from natural minor) going up scale, dropped when going back down.

Dotted Note

Increases note value by 1/2

Double Dotted Note

Increases note value by ¾ (1/2 + 1/4)

Standard Notation of Downbeats

Clearly show where down beats are—express dotted notes as ties if needed.

Harmonic Interval

Played “vertically,” at the same time

Melodic Interval

Played “horizontally,” one after the other.

Perfect Intervals

4th, 5th and Octave

Major/Minor Intervals

2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th

Perfect intervals are always

natural-natural, sharp-sharp, flat-flat, except for B flat/F and B/F sharp

Minor Intervals vs. Major

Minor intervals are always ½ step smaller than major ones.

Tritone

Augmented 4th, +4, or Diminished 5, º5.

Augmented Intervals

½ step larger than a perfect/major intervals

Diminished Interval

½ step smaller than perfect/minor intervals

Triads

3 notes stacked in consecutive 3rds, also called chord/harmony.

Root

Lowest note of triad

4 Triad Qualities

Major, Minor, Diminished, Augmented

Major Triad

M3 (1-3), m3 (3-5)

Minor Triad

m3 (1-3), M3 (3-5)

Diminished Triad

m3 (1-3), m3 (3-5)

Augmented Triad

M3 (1-3), M3 (3-5)

X (Lead Sheet Symbol)

Major

Xm (Lead Sheet Symbol)

Minor

Xº (Lead Sheet Symbol)

Diminished

X+ (Lead Sheet Symbol)

Augmented

sus4 chord

perfect 4th replaces the 3rd of the triad

sus2 chord

Major 2nd replaces the 3rd of the triad

Uppercase Roman Numerals

Major

Lowercase roman numerals

Minor

Roman Numeral Analysis (I,II,III)

Triad built on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. note of the scale

Roman Numeral Inversions (Modified Slash)

Use RN/X. RN says what roman numeral chord it is, X denotes what the bass note is.

7th Chord

The 7th is added to a triad (1-3-5), 3rd higher than a 5th.

maj7/∆7

Major triad + maj 7th interval

7 (Dominant)

Major triad + minor 7th interval

m7 (Minor 7th)

minor triad + minor 7th interval

½ Diminished 7th (dm7, ∅7)

Diminished Triad + Minor 7th Interval

Fully Diminished (º7)

Diminished triad + Diminished 7th interval

C Major Key Signature

All Natural (no sharps/flats)

G Major Key Signature

One sharp, F#

D Major Key Signature

2 Sharps (F#, C#)

A Major Key Signature

3 Sharps (F#, C#, G#)

E Major Key Signature

4 sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#)

B/Cb Major Key Signature

5 Sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#), 7 flats (BEADCGF)

F#/Gb Major Key Signature

6 Sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#), 6 flats (BEADCG)

C#/Db Major Key Signature

7 Sharps (F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#) 5 flats (BEADC)

Ab/G# Major Key Signature

4 Flats (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)

Eb Major Key Signature

3 Flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)

Bb Major Key Signature

2 Flats (Bb, Eb)

F Major Key Signature

1 Flat (Bb)

Order of Sharps in Key Signature

FCGDAEB

Order of Flats in Key Signature

BEADGCF