Introduction to Music Theory

Goal: To make the piano roll and keyboard less scary and help you get familiar with them.
Main Principle: All music includes 12 notes that repeat.

Half Step:
- Definition: The distance between two notes right next to each other.
- Example: From A to B♭ is a half step.
Whole Step:
- Definition: The distance between two notes with one note in between.
- Example: From A to B is a whole step; from B to B♭ is a half step.

A general idea to follow: For simplicity, usually call black notes 'flats,' except for F♯.
Easy Way to Remember Black Notes:
- Start on a white note (like B). To find B♭, move down a half step from B.
- Pairings:
- E falls to E♭
- D falls to D♭
- F♯ can transition to G♭ or remain as F♯

Definition: The distance between two notes of the same name (12 notes apart).
Example: The A note at 440 Hz is an octave from another A note at 880 Hz. (The frequency, doubles as it goes up and it gets cut in half as it goes down.)

Concept: Scales determine which notes sound good together.
Black Note Arrangement: Grouped in sets of 2 and 3.
C Note Identification:
- Identify C as the first white note to the left of any set of two black notes.
- Relevance of C: All C notes are octaves apart.

C Major Scale: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
- In music theory each of these notes are numbered.
- This is called the Nashville Number System.
- Nashville Number System: Assigns numbers to scale notes for music composition.
- C Major Scale: C=1 D=2 E=3 F=4 G=5 A=6 B=7
- Pattern of Note Placement: Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step.
C Minor Scale: C-D-E♭-F-G-A♭-B♭-C
- Changes: Lower the third, sixth, and seventh notes by a half step.
- Minor Scale Pattern: Whole Step - Half Step - Whole Step - Whole Step - Half Step - Whole Step.

Why Scales Matter: Knowing scales helps you play music in any key and build skills for writing and making songs.
Example in Different Keys: Illustrate how to transpose the major and minor scales to keys like A.

Definition of a Chord: A group of typically three or more notes played together, forming harmony.
Basic Chord Construction:
- Major chord: 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes from the scale.
- Example: C Major consists of C-E-G.
- Minor chord: Lower the third note by a half step.
- Example: C Minor consists of C-E♭-G.

Concept: Chord progressions shape melodies and lyrics, allowing expression in music.
Chord Identification Per Scale: Each note in the scale corresponds with specific chords.
A chord progression is a series of chords played in a certain order.
Key of C Major Chord Order:
- Major/Minor Sequence: Major - Minor - Minor - Major - Major - Minor.
- Chords in C Major:
1. C (Major)
2. D (Minor)
3. E (Minor)
4. F (Major)
5. G (Major)
6. A (Minor)

Chord Progression Examples:
- Standard progression: 1-4-5.
- Common Progression: 2-5-1, where 2 is minor: E minor, and 5 is major.
- Importance of Referring to Chords by Numbers:
- Simplifies communication among musicians during live performances.

Major 7ths and Minor Sevenths:
- Major 7ths and Minor Sevenths (like Cmaj7 and Dmin7) make chords sound fuller.
Integration in Chord Progressions:
- Example in 2-5-1 chord progression: Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7

Augmented Chords:
- Definition: Chords with the fifth note raised by a half step.
Major Two Chords:
- Example: Altering D minor (usually minor) to a major chord.
Changing Normal Progression Patterns:
- Example: Play around with changing major to minor for emotional effects.

Four Chord Examples:
- Switching the four chord to minor or the five chord to minor affects feel.
- Practical applications in songs utilizing these transitions, such as emotional connections to chord changes.

Reflecting: Learning about music parts and how to be creative with them helps you become good at writing and arranging songs.
Encouragement to explore and experiment with musical structures as the next phase of learning.