Chapter 1: Key & Scales A Walkthrough of Music Theory Grade 5 Mr Henry HUNG. Key & Scales

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Chapter 1: Key & Scales A Walkthrough of Music Theory Grade 5 Mr Henry HUNG. Key & Scales"

Sylvia Powell
5 years ago
Views:

1 Chapter 1 Key & Scales DEFINITION A key identifies the tonic note and/or chord, it can be understood as the centre of gravity. It may or may not be reflected by the key signature. A scale is a set of musical notes, and each note can be called as a member of the scale. Three fundamental scales are major, minor and chromatic. ESTABLISHMENT OF KEY One common misunderstanding is, the key of a musical piece is always shown in the key signature. In fact, the establishment of a key does not rely on the key signature. The following is an F major scale: F G A B C D E F The key of this scale is clearly stated in the key signature. However, what makes it F major is not only due to the key signature, rather, it is because of the full existence of all members in F major scale: F, G, A, B, C, D and E. As a result, one may expect this scale is also F major: F G A B C D E F Even if the key signature is missing. And to the most sophisticated one, the key of this scale is also F major: F G A B C D E F In conclusion, the key of a musical piece is not necessarily consistent with the key signature. 1

2 CIRCLE OF FIFTHS gain one flat (-1) gain one sharp (+1) FLAT MAJORS C* F B E A D C G F C B SHARP MAJORS D G C C F B E A D G C* 5th lower 5th higher C major is the reference point as it bears no accidentals. It can go into two directions: raised by a 5th (turn clockwise), it will gain one sharp (or lose one flat) lowered by a 5th / raised by a 4th (turn anticlockwise), it will gain one flat (or lose one sharp). The sequence of sharps and flats is also done likewise: Sequence of : Sequence of : 5th 5th 5th 5th 5th F C G D A E th 4th 4th 4th 4th B E A D G C MAJOR SCALE The simplest major scale is C major as it bears no accidentals: C D E F G A B C C, the first note of this scale, is called tonic. For examples, tonic of D major is D, tonic of E major is E, and so on. Tonic is always the beginning note of the scale. 2

3 The relationship of members in major scales can be analyzed this way: W W H W W W H * W = whole tone; H = half tone (semitone) RELATIVE MAJOR-MINOR RELATIONSHIP One most-known relationship of major and minor is the relative relationship. There are few features of this relationship pair: This relationship pair contains only ONE major and ONE minor. The members of this relationship pair must share the same key signature. The intervallic difference between the major member and the minor member is always a minor 3rd (or 3 semitones). The relative minor of a sharp major must be also sharp minor; the relative minor of a flat major must be also flat minor. The minor 3rd relationship is shown diagrammatically below: (major) C B B A A (minor) one semitone Therefore, C major and A minor is a relative major-minor pair. C major is said to be the relative major of A minor, while A minor is said to be the relative minor of C major. Below is most of the relative major-minor pairs: M C G D A E B F F B E A D G m A E B F C G D D G C F B E NATURAL MINOR SCALE There are three types of minor scales: natural, harmonic and melodic. Natural minor shares identical members of its relative major. For example, C major is the relative major of A minor. A natural minor is as follows: A B C D E F G A 3

4 Tonic of A minor is A while tonic of C major is C, though all the members are the same. HARMONIC MINOR SCALE Harmonic minor scale is constructed by raising the 7th note of the natural minor by a semitone. For example, A harmonic minor is as follows: A B C D E F G A MELODIC MINOR SCALE Melodic minor scale is the only scale which has two forms: the ascending (upward) form and the descending (downward) form. Ascending melodic minor scale is constructed by raising the 6th and 7th notes of the natural minor by a semitone. For example, A natural minor ascending is as follows: A B C D E F G A Descending melodic minor scale is identical to the natural minor scale. For example, A natural minor descending is as follows: A G F E D C B A 4

5 CHROMATIC SCALE Chromatic scale is to write every semitone within an octave. Reference to a keyboard will be helpful. For example, to work out an ascending chromatic scale beginning on D will be like this on keyboard: And the result is: It can also be presented by flats instead of sharps: Each note can be represented by more than one note names. This is known as harmonic equivalent notes. For example, F and G are harmonic equivalent. 5

6 WORKING THE EXAM QUESTIONS 2010(B) Q5(b) Write the key signature of three sharps and then one octave descending of the harmonic minor scale with that key signature. Use semibreves (whole notes), begin on the tonic and remember to include any necessary additional sharp, flat or natural signs. Step 1 Major having the key signature of three sharps is A major. Step 2 Its relative minor is F minor. (major) A A G A G G F G (minor) Step 3 Begin on tonic (F ) and write an octave down to give F natural minor scale. Step 4 Raise the 7th note (from lowest to highest) by a semitone. Q.E.D. 2011(C) Q5(b) Write one octave descending of the scale of A major. Do not use a key signature but put in all necessary sharp of flat signs. Use semibreves (whole notes) and begin on the tonic. Step 1 Write down the members of A major: A, B, C, D, E, F and G. 6

7 Step 2 Arrange it into a descending scale without using the key signature. Q.E.D. GENERAL GUIDELINES Carefully raise the note by a semitone, but not simply putting a sharp. For example, in C melodic minor ascending: 6th and 7th notes are natural after raising by a semitone. Observe carefully whether a key signature is necessary or not as stated in the question. Avoid alternatively using sharps and flats in chromatic scale. For example, this is bad though correct: Either this: Or this is acceptable: 7

8 SUMMARY QUICK PRACTICE 8

9 QUICK PRACTICE 1 Write one octave descending of the harmonic minor scale that has the given key signature. Begin on the tonic and remember to include any necessary additional sharp, flat or natural signs. 2 Write one octave ascending of the scale of E major. Do not use a key signature but put in all necessary sharp or flat signs. Use semibreves (whole notes) and begin on the tonic. 3 Put sharps of flats in front of the notes that need them to form the scale of F melodic minor. Do not use a key signature. 4 Using semibreves (whole notes), write one octave descending of the chromatic scale that begins on the given note. Remember to put in all necessary sharp, flat or natural signs. Grade: 9

CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER 9...

CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER CHAPTER 9... Contents Acknowledgements...ii Preface... iii CHAPTER 1... 1 Clefs, pitches and note values... 1 CHAPTER 2... 8 Time signatures... 8 CHAPTER 3... 15 Grouping... 15 CHAPTER 4... 28 Keys and key signatures...