Music Theory

Sound

Frequency · Amplitude · Octave · Timbre +2

The Staff, Notes & Pitches

Treble Clef & Treble Staff

The Grand Staff & Ledger Lines

Note Values & Rests

Measures, Bar Lines & Double Bars

4/4 Time Signature

3/4 Time Signature

2/4 Time Signature

Whole & Half Notes in Context

Bass Clef & Bass Staff

bass clef · F clef · line notes GBDFA · space notes ACEG

Time Signatures Deep Dive

simple time · beat groupings · strong vs weak beats · conducting patterns

The Dotted Half Note

dotted half note · dot adds 50% · 3 beats duration

Ties and Slurs

tie · slur · connected duration · phrasing +1

Repeat Signs, 1st & 2nd Endings

repeat sign · 1st ending · 2nd ending · volta brackets

Eighth Notes

eighth note · flag · beam · half a beat +1

Eighth Rests

eighth rest · rhythmic silence at eighth-note level

Dotted Quarter Notes

dotted quarter note · 1.5 beats · rhythmic push

Dynamic Signs

pianissimo · piano · mezzo-piano · mezzo-forte +4

Tempo Markings

tempo · BPM · Largo · Adagio +6

Articulation

staccato · legato · accent · tenuto +1

D.S., D.C., Coda & Fine

dal segno · da capo · coda · fine +1

Flats

flat · lower by half step · flat symbol

Sharps

sharp · raise by half step · sharp symbol

Naturals

natural · cancel accidental · natural symbol

Whole Steps, Half Steps & Enharmonics

half step · whole step · semitone · tone +1

Tetrachords

tetrachord · 4-note group · W-W-H pattern · scale building blocks

C Major & G Major Scales

C major scale · G major scale · W-W-H-W-W-W-H · F sharp +1

D Major & Sharp Keys

D major · A major · E major · sharp key pattern +1

F Major & Flat Keys

F major · Bb major · Eb major · flat key pattern +1

The Chromatic Scale

chromatic scale · 12 pitches · all half steps

All Major Scales & Key Signatures

circle of fifths · all 15 key signatures · enharmonic keys · key signature reading

Perfect Intervals

perfect unison · perfect 4th · perfect 5th · perfect octave +1

Major Intervals

major 2nd · major 3rd · major 6th · major 7th

Ear Training: Intervals

interval recognition · aural training · reference songs

Minor Intervals

minor 2nd · minor 3rd · minor 6th · minor 7th

Augmented & Diminished Intervals

augmented interval · diminished interval · tritone

Transposition

transposition · changing key · interval of transposition

Interval Applications

intervals in melody · intervals in harmony · interval as compositional tool

Sixteenth Notes

sixteenth note · 4 per beat · double beam · 1-e-and-a

Sixteenth Rests

sixteenth rest

Dotted Eighth Notes

dotted eighth note · 0.75 beats · swing feel foundation

Cut Time (Alla Breve)

cut time · 2/2 time · alla breve · half note beat

6/8 Compound Time

6/8 time · compound time · dotted quarter beat · 2 groups of 3

3/8 and 9/8 Time

3/8 time · 9/8 time · compound triple

Eighth Note Triplets

triplet · 3 in the space of 2 · triplet feel

Pick-Up Notes & Syncopation

anacrusis · pick-up measure · syncopation · off-beat accents

Major Triads

triad · root · third · fifth +1

Primary Triads (I, IV, V)

tonic I · subdominant IV · dominant V · chord function

The Dominant 7th Chord

dominant 7th · V7 · tension and resolution · tritone within V7

V7 in All Keys

V7 in every key · dominant function across keys

Chord Inversions

root position · 1st inversion · 2nd inversion · 3rd inversion

Chord Progressions in Major

common progressions · I-IV-V-I · I-V-vi-IV · I-vi-IV-V +1

Voice Leading

voice leading · common tones · stepwise motion · contrary motion

Cadences

authentic cadence · plagal cadence · half cadence · deceptive cadence

The I-IV-V-I Deep Dive

I-IV-V-I variations · substitutions · extended progressions

Natural Minor Scale

natural minor · aeolian mode · relative minor · W-H-W-W-H-W-W

Harmonic Minor Scale

harmonic minor · raised 7th · leading tone · augmented 2nd

Melodic Minor Scale

melodic minor · ascending form · descending form · jazz minor

Minor Triads

minor triad · root + minor 3rd + perfect 5th

Diminished Triads

diminished triad · root + minor 3rd + diminished 5th

Minor Key Progressions

i-iv-V · i-VI-III-VII · minor harmonic progressions

Dorian Mode

dorian mode · minor with raised 6th · jazz · funk +1

Phrygian & Lydian Modes

phrygian mode · lydian mode · flamenco · film scoring

Mixolydian & Locrian Modes

mixolydian mode · locrian mode · blues rock · dominant feel

Modal Composition

modal composition · mode as key center · avoid notes · characteristic tones

Harmonizing Melody in Major Key

melody harmonization · chord tone matching · chord selection

Broken Chords & Arpeggios

broken chords · arpeggios · accompaniment patterns · Alberti bass

Passing & Neighboring Tones

passing tone · neighboring tone · non-chord tones · embellishment

Harmonizing Melody in Minor Key

minor harmonization · natural vs harmonic minor chords · modal mixture

Composing a Melody

melodic contour · range · stepwise motion · leaps +1

Minor Progression Toolkit

extended minor progressions · borrowed chords · modal interchange

Motive & Phrase

motive · phrase · 4-bar phrase · repetition +1

Binary & Ternary Form

binary form AB · ternary form ABA · rounded binary · song form

Period Form

period · antecedent · consequent · question and answer

Capstone: Full Composition

composition project · combine all concepts · arrangement · full piece