AP Music Theory Chapter 3- Scales, Keys, and Modes

scale degree names

1 Tonic, 2 Supertonic, 3 Mediant, 4 Subdominant, 5 Dominant, 6 Submediant, 7 Leading Tone

7 subtonic

the 7th scale degree a whole step below tonic in the natural minor scale

6 raised submediant

the 6th scale degree in the melodic form of minor

blues scale

a seven note scale, counting the octave, that does not have a second or sixth scale degree but includes the flatted fifth and the fifth

circle of fifths

demonstrates the relationship of the tonal centers to each other

chromatic

a symmetrical scale with all the pitches spaced a half step apart

diatonic

within the scale, notes that occur naturally in a standard major or minor scale without being modified by accidentals other than the sharps or flats in the relevant key signature

key

a specific series of pitches based on a pattern of whole and half steps that define a tonality

minor pentachord

the same first 5 notes of the natural, harmonic, and melodic minor scales

major tetrachord

whole-step, whole-step, half-step

major

designating a scale or mode having half steps between the third and fourth and the seventh and eighth degrees

ionian

major

harmonic minor

the 7th scale degree is raised both ascending and descending, but leaves the other notes the same as natural minor

melodic minor

a minor scale with the 6th and 7th degrees raised while ascending and lowered while descending

natural minor

a minor scale with the diatonic whole intervals being whole steps except those half steps between 2-3 and 5-6

Aeolian

natural minor

dorian

similar to natural minor with a raised 6th scale degree

phrygian

natural minor with a lowered 2nd scale degree

lydian

major with a raised 4th scale degree

mixolydian

major with a lowered 7th scale degree

locrian

natural minor with a lowered 2nd and 5th scale degree

modality

keys defined as major or minor

movable-Do solfeggio system

in which Do is always the tonic

octatonic scale

alternating whole step with half step intervals

diminished scale

octatonic scale

parallel key

major and minor keys with different key signatures but with the same tonic

pentatonic scale

a musical scale with five notes per octave

relative key

major and minor scales that have the same pitches and therefore the same key signature are called relative

scalar variance

the use of natural, harmonic, and melodic minor within one composition

tonal

the tonality

tonality

the principle of organizing a composition around that key note or tonic

tonic

the beginning pitch; the tone on which the scale is built; Do

whole-tone scale

a scale in which all notes are separated by one whole note interval

scale

an ordered collection of pitches in whole- and half- step patterns

major pentachord

whole note, whole note, half note

artificial scales

the harmonic and melodic forms of minor that vary from the key signature and require the use of additional accidentals to create the scale

altered scales

artificial scales

scale degree

each step of the scale

scale step

scale degree

supertonic

the prefix super, meaning above the tonic; Re

mediant

in the median position, halfway between tonic and dominant; Mi

subdominant

the prefix sub, meaning below, refers to this pitch as a fifth below the tonic, or the lower dominant; Fa

dominant

refers to this pitch dominating the tonality; a perfect fifth above tonic; So

submediant

the median pitch, in between the lower dominant (subdominant) and the tonic; La

leading tone

leading tone; leads upward toward resolution to the tonic; Ti

active tones

the strongest and most stable tones; scale degrees 4, 6, and 7

heptatonic scale

major scale that has seven tones