MUS 120 - Chapter 5 Review: Scales, Keys, and Intervals

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts from Music Theory Chapter 5, including scales, intervals, scale degrees, solfège, triads, key signatures, and transposition.

Scale

Derived from the Italian word Scala (meaning "steps"), a musical set of notes played in both ascending and descending order, typically consisting of 7 distinct notes with adjacent letter names without skips.

Diatonic Scale

A seven-note musical scale consisting of five whole steps and two half steps, which includes major and natural minor scales.

Major Scale

A diatonic scale defined by the specific step pattern: $W - W - h - W - W - W - h$ (where $W$ represents a whole step and $h$ represents a half step).

Chromatic Scale

A scale in which all pitches are equally spaced a half step apart.

Half Step

The smallest interval in the Western music system and the smallest possible distance on the piano keyboard, representing the distance between any two adjacent keys (white or black).

Whole Step

An interval formed when two notes on the piano keyboard are $2$ half steps apart ($1\text{ whole step} = 2\text{ half steps}$).

Scale Degree

A name for each note of a scale, commonly numbered $\hat{1}$ through $\hat{8}$ with a caret ($\hat{\ }$) placed above the number, where scale degree $\hat{8}$ is the octave equivalent of scale degree $\hat{1}$.

Solfège Syllables

The vocal pitch syllables assigned to the steps of a scale: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti.

Tonic

Scale degree $\hat{1}$; the fundamental and most important note of the scale that establishes the key.

Supertonic

Scale degree $\hat{2}$, located directly above the tonic.

Mediant

Scale degree $\hat{3}$; the third most important pitch in the scale, situated halfway between the tonic and dominant.

Subdominant

Scale degree $\hat{4}$, located four scale steps above the tonic.

Dominant

Scale degree $\hat{5}$; the second most important note of the scale.

Submediant

Scale degree $\hat{6}$, located midway between the subdominant and upper tonic.

Leading Tone

Scale degree $\hat{7}$, located a half step below the tonic that leads directly upward to it.

Tonic Triad

A group formed by the first, third, and fifth scale degrees ($\hat{1}$, $\hat{3}$, and $\hat{5}$: Tonic, Mediant, and Dominant) that establishes the key of a piece.

Key Signature

A collection of every accidental (sharps or flats) found in a scale, placed at the beginning of the staff between the clef and the meter signature to indicate the key.

Circle of Fifths

A circular diagram showing the arrangement of key signatures organized progressively by the number of sharps or flats.

Order of Sharps

The standard sequence in which sharps are added to a key signature: $F - C - G - D - A - E - B$.

Order of Flats

The standard sequence in which flats are added to a key signature: $B - E - A - D - G - C - F$.

Fixed Do

A solfège system where the note C is always designated as Do, functioning like reading letter names.

Movable Do

A solfège system where scale degree $\hat{1}$ of any key is designated as Do, functioning like reading scale-degree numbers.

Major Tetrachord

A four-note segment of a major scale following the interval pattern of whole step, whole step, half step ($W - W - H$).

Transposing

The process of shifting a melody and/or chord progression to a new key while maintaining the exact same interval relationships.

Beginning Staff Symbol Order

The fixed left-to-right order of notation symbols placed at the start of a staff: Clef, Key Signature, then Meter Signature (clef, key, meter).

Natural Minor Scale

A diatonic scale defined by the step pattern: $W - H - W - W - H - W - W$.

Harmonic Minor Scale

A minor scale defined by the step pattern: $W - H - W - W - H - A2 - H$, featuring an augmented second between scale degrees $\hat{6}$ and $\hat{7}$.

Melodic Minor Scale

A minor scale whose ascending pattern is $W - H - W - W - W - W - H$, and whose descending pattern reverts to the natural minor scale pattern.