Pitches and Scales
What are the letters of the musical alphabet?
a-b-c-d-e-f-g
What is the tonic note in a scale?
The first note of the scale (do)
What is diatonic music?
Music that is clearly in a major or minor key.
What is a triad?
A three-note chord built on scale steps.
What provides unity in a piece of music?
The key
What is the definition of a sharp?
A sharp raises a tone by a half step.
What does the dominant note represent?
The fifth note of the scale (sol)
What is chromaticism?
The use of the full gamut of twelve half steps.
How is a tonic chord built?
It is built on the first scale step (do).
What are foreign keys?
Keys that add variety and contrast to the home key.
What is the pattern of a major scale?
W-W-H-W-W-W-H (whole and half steps).
What is a basic progression of harmony?
Tonic-dominant-tonic.
Name a type of music that uses pentatonic scales.
African, Asian, or Native American music.
What is the function of the dominant chord?
It seeks to resolve to the tonic.
What is the statement-departure-return progression?
A basic musical pattern from home key to contrasting key and back.
What defines a minor scale?
It follows the pattern W-H-W-W-H-W-W and has a lowered third.
What is the role of the subdominant chord?
It is built on the fourth scale step (fa) and resolves to the tonic.
What are microtones?
Intervals smaller than a half step.
What is modulation in music?
The shift to a different key during a composition.
How does modulation create tension?
By shifting to a different key that requires resolution
What is the sound of a major scale?
Cheerful and triumphant.
How do tonic and dominant chords interact?
The dominant chord seeks to resolve to the tonic.
How does chromatic music differ from diatonic?
Chromatic music explores all twelve half steps, while diatonic music is rooted in major or minor keys.
Explain transposition in music.
It is when an entire work is set in a new key.
Explain the role of home key in music.
It provides a point of ultimate rest and serves as the home base.