scales
an ordered collection of pitches in whole and half-step patterns
chromatic scale
a symmetrical scale with all piches spaced a half step apart
major scale pattern
W W H W W W H
scale degree 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
the half steps are between 3 & 4 and 7 & 8
diatonic notes
notes within a given scale
chromatic notes
notes that are outside a given scale
key signature
Shows which pitches are to be sharped or flatted consistently throughout the piece and indicates the key or tonal center. It is written at the beginning of every staff.
sequence of sharps in a key signature
F# C# G# D# A# E# B#
sequence of flats in a key signature
bB bE bA bD bG bC bF
key
a specific series of notes based on a pattern of whole and half steps that define a tonality (the principal of organizing a composition around that keynote or tonic
natural (or pure) minor scale pattern
W H W W H W W
the half steps are between scale degrees 2 & 3 and 5 & 6
three forms of minor
natural, harmonic, melodic
natural form of minor
minor form with no alterations from the key signature
harmonic form of minor
minor form where the 7th scale degree is raised, but leaves the other notes the same as the natural minor
melodic form of minor
minor form that begins with the minor pentachord and raises both the 6th and 7th scale degrees in the ascending scale, but reverts back to the natural minor form of the scale when descending
relative major and relative minor
Refers to denoting a major and minor key that have the same key signature. A major scale and its relative (natural) minor both use the same collection of pitches; they just start on a different tonic. The tonic of the relative minor scale is the 6th scale
parallel
major and minor key with different key signatures, but with the same tonic
circle of fifths
demonstrates the relationship of the tonal centers (keys) to each other with each key a fifth apart
solmization
a system of designating notes by solfege syllables
solfeggio
method of sight-singing using solfege syllables
Do Re Mi Fa So Le Te Do
solfege syllables
scale degree names
tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, leading tone
subtonic
the 7th scale degree is a whole step below tonic in the natural minor scale
raised submediant
the 6th scale degree in the melodic form of minor
pentatonic scale
scale with five tones (not including the octave)
heptatonic scale
scale with seven tones
anhemitonic pentatonic scale
Scale with five rotations (containing no half steps) taking five consecutive pitches from the Circle of Fifths and they rearranging the order so that they fit within one octave. Most commonly C-D-E-G-A-(C).
whole tone scale
(in relationship to a major scale) 1-2-3-b5-b6-b7 or 1-2-3-#4-#5-#6
diminished scale
1-2-b3-4-b5-b6-6-7
blues scale
(in relationship to the major scale) 1-b3-4-b5-5-b7
diatonic modes or church modes
ionian, aeolian, dorian, shrygian, lydian, mixolydian
Ionian mode
diatonic mode that is the same as major scale
Aeolian mode
diatonic mode that is a natural minor scale
Dorian mode
Diatonic mode similar to natural minor with a raised 6th scale degree. When relating to minor key signatures, it adds one sharp.
Phrygian mode
Diatonic mode that is a natural minor with a lowered 2nd scale degree. When relating to minor key signatures, it adds one flat.
Lydian mode
Diatonic mode that is a major scale with raised 4th scale degree. When relating to major key signatures, it adds one sharp.
Mixolydian
Diatonic mode that is a major scale with lowered 7th scale degree. When relating to major key signatures, it adds one flat.