Click image to open full size
Music
Grade 11-12
AP Music Theory Reference Cheat Sheet
A printable reference covering clefs, key signatures, intervals, scales, chords, Roman numerals, cadences, and harmonic analysis for grades 11-12.
Related Worksheets
Related Infographics
AP Music Theory connects written notation, ear training, harmony, and musical structure. This cheat sheet gives students a compact reference for the symbols, patterns, and labels used most often on the exam. It is useful for reviewing analysis skills, checking written work, and building confidence with common tonal-music conventions.
Key Facts
- In treble clef, the staff lines from bottom to top are E, G, B, D, F, and the spaces are F, A, C, E.
- In bass clef, the staff lines from bottom to top are G, B, D, F, A, and the spaces are A, C, E, G.
- Major scale pattern is W W H W W W H, where W means whole step and H means half step.
- Natural minor scale pattern is W H W W H W W, harmonic minor raises scale degree 7, and melodic minor raises scale degrees 6 and 7 when ascending.
- A major triad has root, major third, and perfect fifth, while a minor triad has root, minor third, and perfect fifth.
- Common Roman numerals in major keys are I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, and vii°, with uppercase for major chords and lowercase for minor or diminished chords.
- A dominant seventh chord is written V7 and contains scale degrees 5, 7, 2, and 4 in a major key.
- A perfect authentic cadence is V or V7 to I with both chords in root position and scale degree 1 in the soprano on the final chord.
Vocabulary
- Key signature
- A set of sharps or flats at the beginning of a staff that shows the tonal center and diatonic pitch collection.
- Interval
- The distance between two pitches, named by number and quality such as major third or perfect fifth.
- Roman numeral analysis
- A system for labeling chords by their scale-degree root and quality within a key.
- Cadence
- A harmonic ending or pause that gives a phrase a sense of closure or continuation.
- Inversion
- A chord position in which a note other than the root is the lowest sounding pitch.
- Nonchord tone
- A pitch that is not part of the current chord and usually resolves by step or follows a recognizable melodic pattern.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing key signature with temporary accidentals is wrong because accidentals can create chromatic notes without changing the overall key.
- Counting only semitones for intervals is wrong because AP Music Theory requires both interval number and quality, such as M3, m3, P5, or A4.
- Writing uppercase Roman numerals for every chord is wrong because numeral case shows chord quality, with uppercase for major and lowercase for minor or diminished chords.
- Ignoring chord inversion is wrong because figured bass symbols such as 6, 6/4, 7, 6/5, 4/3, and 4/2 identify the bass note and affect voice leading.
- Calling every V to I motion a perfect authentic cadence is wrong because a PAC must use root-position V or V7 to root-position I and end with scale degree 1 in the soprano.
Practice Questions
- 1 In the key of D major, identify the notes in the V7 chord and write its Roman numeral.
- 2 What is the interval from F up to C sharp, including both number and quality?
- 3 In A minor, write the ascending melodic minor scale using note names.
- 4 Explain why the progression ii6 to V7 to I creates a strong sense of tonal direction in a major key.