Music Syntax

What are each of the partials of a harmonic series (including the fundamental)?

Fundamental, P8, P5, P8, M3, P5, m7, P8, M2, M3, +4

What are three types of non diatonic scales?

Pentatonic M/m, whole tone scale, and octatonic scale

What is the difference between the pentatonic major and minor?

In pentatonic major, the 4&7 scale degrees are removed from a Major scale. In minor, the 2&6 scale degrees are removed from the natural minor scale.

What is the similarity between both M/m pentatonic scales?

Both remove a tritone from the scale

What is an octatonic scale?

A scale that alternates using whole steps and half steps

What is a whole-tone scale?

A scale that uses only whole steps

How can you tell if a piece of music is using a pentatonic scale?

Look for missing scale degrees. If it is using the major pentatonic, scale degrees 4 and seven will be missing. If it is using the minor pentatonic, scale degrees 2 and 6 will be missing.

How do you make a Major triad?

Major 3rd on the bottom, minor 3rd on the top

How do you make a minor triad?

minor 3rd on the bottom, Major 3rd on the top

How do you make a diminished triad?

use two minor 3rds

How do you make an augmented triad?

Use two major 3rds

How many types of 7th chords are there? What are their names?

There are five main 7th chords. They are M7, m7, Mm7 (or Dominant 7th), half-diminished 7th, and fully diminished 7th.

What are the markings used for the inversions of triads?

You usually leave root position blank (but can use 5/3), for first inversion you usually write 6 (but can write 6/3), and for second inversion you write 6/4.

How many chord positions are there for 7th chords? How do you mark them?

There are four chord positions (root, 1st inv., 2nd inv., 3rd inv.). You mark root using a 7 (or 7/5/3), 1st using 6/5 (or 6/5/3), 2nd using 4/3 (or 6/4/3), and 3rd using 4/2 (or 6/4/2).

In 1st inversion 7th chord, what note is on the bottom?

The root of a 7th chord is the 3rd of the non-inverted 7th chord.

What mode starts on F? Is it M or m and does it have any adjustments?

Lydian, Major scale w/ sharp 4

What mode starts on C? Is it M or m, and does it have any adjustments?

Ionian, Major scale

What mode starts on G? Is it M or m and does it have any adjustments?

Mixolydian, Major scale w/ flat 7

What mode starts on D? Is it M or m and does it have any adjustments?

Dorian, natural minor w/ sharp 6

What mode starts on A? Is it M or m and does it have any adjustments?

Aeolian, natural minor scale

What mode starts on E? Is it M or m and does it have any adjustments?

Phrygian, natural minor w/ flat 2 (very dissonant!)

What mode starts on B? Is it M or m and does it have any adjustments?

Locrian, natural minor w/ flat 2 and 5 (dissonant and tritone!)

What are the half-steps of the Lydian mode?

0-2-4-6-7-9-11-0

What are the half-steps of the Ionian mode?

0-2-4-5-7-9-11-0

What are the half-steps of the Mixolydian mode?

0-2-4-5-7-9-10-0

What are the half-steps of the Dorian mode?

0-2-3-5-7-9-10-0

What are the half-steps of the Aeolian mode?

0-2-3-5-7-8-10-0

What are the half-steps of the Phrygian mode?

0-1-3-5-7-8-10-0

What are the half-steps of the Locrian mode?

0-1-3-5-6-8-10-0

What are the only two modes with a 1 halfstep?

Phrygian and Locrian

What is the only difference between Phrygian and Locrian?

Phrygian has a P5 (7 half-steps), while Locrian has a diminished 5 (6 half-steps)

What is the only mode with half-steps 5 and 11?

Ionian

What is the only mode with half-steps 6 and 9?

Lydian

What is the only mode with half-steps 4 and 10?

Mixolydian

What is the only mode with half-steps 3 and 9?

Dorian

What is the only mode with half-steps 2 and 8?

Aeolian

What is the only mode with half-steps 1 and 7?

Phrygian

What is the only mode with half-steps 1 and 6?

Locrian

What two modes have 11 half-steps?

Lydian and Ionian

What two modes have 6 half-steps?

Lydian and Locrian

What two modes have half-steps 4, 5, and 9?

Ionian and Mixolydian

What is the order of modes starting with the Lydian mode?

Lydian, Ionian, Mixolydian, Dorian, Aeolian, Phrygian, Locrian

What is the difference between Lydian and Ionian?

Lydian has +4 (6 half-steps) while Ionian has P4 (5 half-steps)

What is the difference between Ionian and Mixolydian?

Ionian has M7 (11 half-steps) while Mixolydian has m7 (10 half-steps)

What is the difference between Mixolydian and Dorian?

Mixolydian has M3 (4 half-steps) while Dorian has m3 (3 half-steps)

What is the difference between Dorian and Aeolian?

Dorian has M6 (9 half-steps) while Aeolian has m6 (8 half-steps)

What is the difference between Aeolian and Phrygian?

Aeolian has M2 (2 half-steps) while Phrygian has m2 (1 half-step)