Download Basic Music Theory

Basic Music Theory
Western Music is derived from an equally tempered “tuning” and contains 12 different pitches:
A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#
Same thing written with flats (enharmonic equivalent): A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G, Ab
Pitch: the frequency of a note; how high or deep it sounds; other words that are equivalent for
beginning theory are: pitch = note = tone = specific vibration. In written music pitch is
understood by a letter representing its frequency. More on this later….
Enharmonic: term used to describe two names for the same pitch. ie: A# = Bb
These pitches are spread out over the octaves of an instrument a piano having one of the largest
ranges. An octave is the distance between two of the same pitches. From G up to G or down to
G. An octave is eight scale steps or 13 half-steps.
An interval is the distance between two notes. The smallest interval used in Western music is
the half step. An octave as describe above is an interval of 8 steps or 13 half steps (this will be
clarified later on). We will discuss intervals in more depth further in this paper but for now we
must understand a whole step and a half-step to learn about scales.
A whole step is the distance between two consecutive white or black keys. It is made up of two
half steps.
SCALES
From the twelve pitches described above we derive an endless variety of scales: Major, Minor,
Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Hungarian Minor, Minor Blues, Major Blues, Mixolydian,
Whole Tone…..the list goes on.
Scale: the successive notes of a key or mode.
All music theory starts with the diatonic Major Scale.
A major scale is a series of 8 consecutive notes that use the following pattern of half and whole
steps: Listen
Below is a C Major Scale:
Notice the half steps fall between the 3rd and 4th scale degree and the 7th and 8th scale degree.
This is the structure of all Major scales, whether you begin on G# or B. (**This is very
important theory, memorize it.)
To construct other Major scales, begin on any of the twelve pitches discussed earlier and apply
the proper sharps or flats. Traveling around the circle of 5ths (below) you notice we add sharp
every 5th. The scales E through B are easy to comprehend with this pattern, memorize the rest of
them by studying the scale charts below. A key signature is derived from applying this pattern to
different starting notes. Read on to learn more about keys.
KEY SIGNATURES
There are 15 major and 15 minor key signatures. The sharps or flats at the beginning of
the staff indicate the main tone (diatonic) to which other tones are related.
Db-C#, Gb-F#, Cb-B, are enharmonic keys, meaning that they are written differently, but sound
the same.
There are 15 major and 15 minor key signatures. The sharps or flats at the beginning of the staff
indicate the main tone (diatonic) to which other tones are related. The circle above shows the
relationship between Relavtive Major and Minor Scales. The Major scale is in Blue and the
Minor Scale is in Red. Relavative means that you use the same key signature (sharps and flats)
to play the relative Major and Minor scale, you simply change your tonic or starting note.
Positions of Em Pentatonic
Rhythm
Rhythm is a repetitive pattern of sound – it is the
duration for which we hold a note as well as the
duration of rests in between notes. Rhythm patterns
are infinite….here are few ideas to get us started.
Learn them, then see what you can do to change
them and create with them.
Chord Rhythms for Guitar & Piano
*Notice how changing the accent’s position changes the feel of the rhythm – notice how it
works against the bassist or the percussionist’s rhythmic idea.
Accent On 1 Rhythm
Count- 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Accent on 1-4 Rhythm
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Count- 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Accent on 1-4-7 Rhythm
Count- 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Acoustic Rhythm
↓ ↓ ↑
↑↓↑
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
↓ ↓↑
↑ ↓ ↑