Music: Music Theory: Notes, Scales, and Chords
Identifying pitches, building scales, and forming basic chords
Music: Music Theory: Notes, Scales, and Chords
Identifying pitches, building scales, and forming basic chords
Music - Grade 6-8
- 1
Write the musical alphabet in order, starting on C and ending on the next C.
The musical alphabet starting on C is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. After G, the letters repeat from A. - 2
On a piano keyboard, identify the note that is one half step above E.
A half step is the distance from one key to the very next key, including white and black keys.
The note one half step above E is F. There is no black key between E and F, so F is the next key to the right. - 3
Use the major scale pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H to write the C major scale.
W means whole step and H means half step.
The C major scale is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. It follows the whole step and half step pattern with no sharps or flats. - 4
Use the major scale pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H to write the G major scale.
Start on G and check the step from E to the next note carefully.
The G major scale is G, A, B, C, D, E, F sharp, G. The F must be raised to F sharp to fit the major scale pattern. - 5
Name the notes on the spaces of the treble clef staff from bottom to top.
The treble clef space notes spell a word.
The notes on the spaces of the treble clef from bottom to top are F, A, C, and E. These letters spell the word FACE. - 6
Name the notes on the lines of the treble clef staff from bottom to top.
The notes on the lines of the treble clef from bottom to top are E, G, B, D, and F. - 7
Write an enharmonic name for F sharp.
Enharmonic notes sound the same but have different letter names.
An enharmonic name for F sharp is G flat. The two names refer to the same piano key but are spelled differently. - 8
In the C major scale, what is the scale degree number for G?
In the C major scale, G is scale degree 5. Counting from C gives C as 1, D as 2, E as 3, F as 4, and G as 5. - 9
Build a C major triad by writing the root, third, and fifth.
A triad uses every other note starting from the root.
A C major triad is C, E, and G. C is the root, E is the third, and G is the fifth. - 10
Build a G major triad by writing the root, third, and fifth.
A G major triad is G, B, and D. G is the root, B is the third, and D is the fifth. - 11
Build an A minor triad by writing the root, third, and fifth.
Use notes from the C major scale and start on A.
An A minor triad is A, C, and E. A is the root, C is the minor third, and E is the fifth. - 12
Explain the difference between a major triad and a minor triad.
A major triad has a major third between the root and the third, while a minor triad has a minor third between the root and the third. This difference often makes major chords sound brighter and minor chords sound darker. - 13
Identify the chord made from the notes E, G sharp, and B.
Look for the note that could be the root, then check whether the third is major or minor.
The notes E, G sharp, and B make an E major chord. E is the root, G sharp is the major third, and B is the fifth. - 14
In the key of C major, write the I, IV, and V chords.
Count C as scale degree 1.
In the key of C major, the I chord is C major, the IV chord is F major, and the V chord is G major. These chords are built on the 1st, 4th, and 5th scale degrees. - 15
A song uses the chord progression C, G, Am, F. Write the Roman numerals for this progression in the key of C major.
In the key of C major, the progression C, G, Am, F is I, V, vi, IV. C is the 1 chord, G is the 5 chord, A minor is the 6 chord, and F is the 4 chord.