INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC THEORY

1. INTRODUCTIONTO MUSIC THEORY Wednesday, September 19, 2012

2. TODAY: • Music Sharing – Justin (XHS) • Music Sharing – Kasey (CHS) • RQ7 • The Chromatic Scale • Intervals • Composition #2 • You’re really just adding on to Composition #1… • Homework: L31, L32, & L33

3. THE CHROMATIC SCALE: • The CHROMATIC SCALE is made up entirely of half steps in consecutive order. • On a keyboard, a chromatic scale uses every key; black and white. • When a chromatic scale goes up, it is called ASCENDING (use sharps). • When a chromatic scale goes down, it is called DESCENDING (use flats). • A chromatic scale may begin or end on any note. • In a chromatic scale, there are 12 pitches (vs. 8 in a major scale).

4. INTERVALS: • An INTERVAL in music is the distance in pitch between two notes. • An interval is counted from the lower note to the higher note, with the lower note counted as 1 (count every line and space going up the staff). • Intervals are names by the number of the upper note (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th) with two exceptions: • The interval that is between notes that are identical is called a UNISON (unis.) (or a prime).

5. INTERVALS: • An interval of an 8th is called an octave (8va). • Melodic intervals are sounded separately. • Harmonic intervals are sounded together. • Even numbered intervals (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8va) are written from line to space or space to line. • Odd numbered intervals (unis., 3rd, 5th, 7th) are written from line to line or space to space. • Two note combinations are also known as dyads. • We will eventually “qualify” intervals by type, as well as distance (major, minor, diminished, augmented, perfect).