Topic 1: Elements of Music - Key

Tonic / Keynote

The f___ n___ of any musical s____ that serves as the c____ t____ of a piece. (e.g. C Major key = C tonic note, G Major key = G tonic note)

Music is built on a c___ of t___ and r____.

A piece generally e___ with the tonic note to create a p___ r____, s____, and a sense of c____ because the human ear c____ a sense of r____ at the end of a piece.

Ending b____ the tonic note leaves listeners feeling u____.

first note, scale, central tone

cycle, tension, resolution

ends, perfect resolution, satisfaction, completion, craves, resolution

before, unfinished

Definition of Scale

An o____ s____ of n____ arranged in a____ or d____ o____ of p____.

It is a s___ c____ of n____ from the __ a____ p____ in W____ m____.

organized sequence, notes, ascending, descending order, pitch

specific collection. notes, 12 available pitches, Western music

Tonality / Key

Tonality d____ the o____ e____ q____ and h___ g____ of the music pulling toward that home note.

Major tonality sounds b___, u____, s____, and h____.

Minor tonality sounds d____, s____, m____, or s____.

describes, overall emotional quality, harmonic gravity

bright, uplifting, stable, happy

dark, sad, mysterious, serious

Circle of Fifths

• Up by fifths, add 1 sharp, starting from F-sharp

• C, G, D, A …

The Chromatic Scale

A different type of scale in Western music that includes a__ __ n____ of the o____; e___ t____ is a h___ s____ a____ from the n___ one.

A___ t____ have the s___ d____ a____, so a k___ is n___ d____ (e.g. C - C# - D - D# - E - F - F# - G - G# - A - A# - B - C).

Because it does not settle into one key, composers use a chromatic scale to add d____, m____, and f____ to a piece of music.

• Chromatic alteration: C____ t____ by i____ notes o____ of the p____ k____, creating i____ h____ f____.

• I____ r____, c___ m____ to m___ m____

all 12 notes, octave; each tone, half step away, next

All tones, same distance apart, key, not defined.

drama, movement, flavor

creates tension, introducing, outside, primary key, instant harmonic friction

Illustrates rapid, chaotic movement, mimic motion

Modulation (Key Change)

The p____ of c____ from o___ k___ (tonal center) to a____ within a s____ p____ of music.

It is used by composers to:

• C____ v____
  S____ in one key for t___ l____ can sound m____ and b___ listeners
  

• B___ t____ and d____
  It d____ l____ e____ and creates a sense of j___ or c____
  
  

• S____ e____
  Changing keys can instantly make a piece feel b____, d____, or more t____, or deeply m____

process, chaning, one key, another, single piece

create variety
staying, too long, monotonous, bore

build tension, drama
disrupts listeners’ expectations, journey, conflict

shift emotions
brighter, darker, triumphant, melancholic