MUST 1711 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Hemiola, Key Signature, Leading-Tone
30 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Music Theory l / Temple University / Dr. E. Derr
Lecture and Book Notes / Weeks 1-6 (1st half of Fall Semester)
Book: The Complete Musician – 4th Edition By: Steven G. Laitz
Notes By: Kirstin Ortiz
*Note from Kirstin: Music theory is a complex and difficult area of study. These notes are intended for someone who has previous knowledge of
music theory and is intending to use these notes to supplement their studies. These notes are concise and intended to be a reference for
studying purposes. In order to succeed in a theory class, one needs to complete written and aural exercises as well as study. Solely reviewing
these notes will not be substantial enough to pass a theory class or retain the full scope of theory studies, but I hope that they are helpful
nonetheless. *
Tonal Music – Music of the “Common Practice Period”; 1650-1900 (Also known as the Baroque,
Classical, and Romantic Periods)
➢ Has gravitational centers and tonality
• The first pitch in every measure is accented
Metric Placement – A pitch that occurs on a beat
Pitch – The musical sound generated by a vibrating body
8va – A pitch one octave higher than indicated
8vb (8va bassa) – Pitch one octave lower than indicated
• Frequency determines pitch
Frequency – Regularly recurring vibrations; fast vibration = high pitch and slow vibration = low
pitch
Register – Pitch placement
➢ Ex. C3 to C5 is generally the “middle register” (this can vary depending on who you talk
to)
Pitch Class – All pitches with the same letter (E.g. C 2, 3, and 4)
Diatonic – Pitches that are “members” of a certain scale
Harmonic Minor Scale – Natural minor scale, but 7th scale degree is raised by a half-step (during
ascent and descent)
Melodic Minor Scale – Natural minor scale, but 6th and 7th scale degrees are raised by a half-step
(during ascent only)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Music Theory l / Temple University / Dr. E. Derr
Lecture and Book Notes / Weeks 1-6 (1st half of Fall Semester)
Book: The Complete Musician – 4th Edition By: Steven G. Laitz
Notes By: Kirstin Ortiz
Chromatic Half Steps – The distance between two pitches when the only difference between
them is sharp or flat accidental (e.g. C and C#,)
• Leading tone = goal-oriented motion; almost always resolves upward by a half step
to the first scale degree
Enharmonicism – Pitches that sound the same but have different names (E.g. Cb & B)
• Major and Minor Scales are considered modes of music
Closely related keys – Keys that differ by 1 accidental (E.g. C Major (no accidentals) and G
Major (one sharp)
Triad Structure: Root, 3rd, 5th
Key: M=Major m=minor d=Diminished A=Augmented P=Perfect
Structures of Triad Qualities:
➢ Major Triad: M3+P5
➢ Minor Triad: m3+P5
➢ Diminished Triad: m3+d5
➢ Augmented Triad: M3+A5
Triad Inversion Symbols:
Root Position: 3/5 (or just 3)
1st Inversion: 6/3 (or just 6)
2nd Inversion: 6/4 (Both numbers must be written)
Relative Keys – Major and minor keys that share a key signature
• Relative minor keys are 3 half steps (one letter name) below their relative major
Dyad – A pair of pitches
Interval – Distance between dyads
Generic Interval Name – The number that identifies an interval
Melodic Interval – Two pitches played separately
Harmonic Interval – Two pitches played at the same time
Contour – The direction of an interval from left to right
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
*note from kirstin: music theory is a complex and difficult area of study. These notes are intended for someone who has previous knowledge of music theory and is intending to use these notes to supplement their studies. These notes are concise and intended to be a reference for studying purposes. In order to succeed in a theory class, one needs to complete written and aural exercises as well as study. Solely reviewing these notes will not be substantial enough to pass a theory class or retain the full scope of theory studies, but i hope that they are helpful nonetheless. Tonal music music of the common practice period ; 1650-1900 (also known as the baroque, Has gravitational centers and tonality: the first pitch in every measure is accented. Metric placement a pitch that occurs on a beat. Pitch the musical sound generated by a vibrating body. 8va a pitch one octave higher than indicated.
