AP Music Theory Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the key signature for C Major?

No Sharps/Flats (correct)

1 Sharp

1 Flat

2 Sharps

What is the key signature for G Major?

1 Flat

1 Sharp (correct)

No Sharps/Flats

2 Sharps

What is the key signature for D Major?

3 Sharps

No Sharps/Flats

2 Sharps (correct)

1 Sharp

What is the key signature for A Major?

3 Sharps Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for E Major?

4 Sharps Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for B Major?

6 Sharps Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for F# Major?

6 Sharps Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for C# Major?

7 Sharps Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for F Major?

1 Flat Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for B♭ Major?

2 Flats Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for E♭ Major?

3 Flats Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for A♭ Major?

4 Flats Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for D♭ Major?

5 Flats Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for G♭ Major?

6 Flats Signup and view all the answers

What is the key signature for C♭ Major?

7 Flats Signup and view all the answers

How do you find intervals?

Count the letter names from starting note to ending note and count half steps. If the number of half steps is even, it's minor; if odd, it's major. Signup and view all the answers

How do you find interval inversions?

Subtract the numerical value of the first interval from 9 and switch quality: M>m, P stays P, + > ∘, ∘ > +. Signup and view all the answers

Name the interval qualities from smallest to largest.

Diminished, Minor, Major, Augmented. Signup and view all the answers

What is Natural Minor?

Follows the same key signature as the relative major, with no raised notes. Signup and view all the answers

What is Harmonic Minor?

Raised 7th degree (leading tone). Signup and view all the answers

What is Melodic Minor?

Raised 6th and 7th on ascent, lowered 6th and 7th in descent. Signup and view all the answers

How do you find the relative minor?

Count 4 half steps down from the tonic of the starting major scale, including the starting pitch. Signup and view all the answers

How do you find the relative major?

Count 4 half steps up from the tonic of the starting minor scale, including the starting pitch. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Diatonic Series for Major?

Ⅰ-ⅱ-ⅲ-Ⅳ-Ⅴ-ⅵ-ⅶ*-Ⅰ Signup and view all the answers

What is the Diatonic Series for Minor?

ⅰ-ⅱ*-Ⅲ-iv-Ⅴ-Ⅵ-vii*-i Signup and view all the answers

What is the Harmonic Motion Pull Chart for Major?

ⅲ----vi/----ii, ii*, Ⅳ ----Ⅴ, Ⅴ⁷,vii𝇉⁷----I Signup and view all the answers

What is the Harmonic Motion Pull Chart for Minor?

III----VI----ii*,iv ,ii𝇉⁷----V, V⁷,vii*, vii𝇉⁷ ---- I Signup and view all the answers

What is Parallel Minor?

Same letter name as the Major it comes from. Signup and view all the answers

What is Figured Bass?

Line given of bass notes with numbers/symbols underneath that tell you the intervals from the bass where the rest of the notes must go. Signup and view all the answers

What are the inversion symbols for Triads?

Root Position: nothing written or 5/3; First Inversion: 6 or 6/3; 2nd Inversion: 6/4. Signup and view all the answers

What are the inversion symbols for 7th Chords?

Root Position: 7; 1st Inversion: 6/5; 2nd Inversion: 4/3; 3rd Inversion: 4/2. Signup and view all the answers

What do accidentals or slashes in figured bass mean?

Follow accidentals for notes. If only accidental appears, it applies to the 3rd above the bass. Slashes mean to raise. Signup and view all the answers

What is the interval pattern for Dominant 7th Chords?

Major/minor/minor. Signup and view all the answers

What is the interval pattern for Major 7th Chords?

Major/Major/Major. Signup and view all the answers

What is the interval pattern for Minor 7th Chords?

minor/Major/minor. Signup and view all the answers

What is the interval pattern for Half Diminished 7th Chords?

minor/minor/Major. Signup and view all the answers

What is the interval pattern for Fully Diminished 7th Chords?

minor/minor/minor. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Progression (P)?

Forward harmonic motion on the pull chart. Signup and view all the answers

What is Elision?

Progression in which one or more chords in the pull chart are skipped over. Signup and view all the answers

What is Retrogression (R)?

Moving backwards on the pull chart. Signup and view all the answers

What is Repetition (S)?

Repetition of a chord that is functionally the same on the pull chart. Signup and view all the answers

What is Modal Music?

Music centered around a scale. Signup and view all the answers

What is Tonal Music?

Centered around a key. Starts and ends on tonic. Signup and view all the answers

Name the Scale Degree Names in Order.

1 - Tonic, 2 - Supertonic, 3 - Mediant, 4 - Subdominant, 5 - Dominant, 6 - Submediant, 7 - Leading Tone, 8 - Tonic. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Cadence?

Musical punctuation. A 2 chord progression that occurs at the end of a phrase. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC)?

A strong cadence that resolves the music firmly. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Signatures with Corresponding Minor Scales

C Major has no sharps or flats; its relative minor is A minor.
G Major contains 1 sharp; its relative minor is E minor.
D Major features 2 sharps; its relative minor is B minor.
A Major includes 3 sharps; its relative minor is F# minor.
E Major has 4 sharps; its relative minor is C# minor.
B Major contains 5 sharps; its relative minor is G# minor.
F# Major features 6 sharps; its relative minor is D# minor.
C# Major has 7 sharps; its relative minor is A# minor.
F Major has 1 flat; its relative minor is D minor.
B♭ Major contains 2 flats; its relative minor is G minor.
E♭ Major features 3 flats; its relative minor is C minor.
A♭ Major has 4 flats; its relative minor is F minor.
D♭ Major contains 5 flats; its relative minor is B♭ minor.
G♭ Major features 6 flats; its relative minor is E♭ minor.
C♭ Major has 7 flats; its relative minor is A♭ minor.

Intervals and Their Qualities

To determine intervals, count the letter names between the starting and ending notes, then count half steps.
An even number of half steps indicates a minor interval; an odd number indicates a major interval.
For interval inversions, subtract the interval's value from 9 and switch its quality: Major to minor, perfect stays perfect, augmented becomes diminished and vice versa.

Types of Minor Scales

Natural Minor aligns with the same key signature as its relative major with no raised notes.
Harmonic Minor raises the 7th degree, creating a leading tone.
Melodic Minor raises both the 6th and 7th degrees on ascension and lowers them on descension.

Finding Relative Major and Minor

Relative minor can be found by counting 4 half steps down from the tonic of the major scale.
Relative major can be found by counting 4 half steps up from the tonic of the minor scale.

Diatonic Series

Major Scale Degrees: I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-vii*-I
Minor Scale Degrees: i-ii*-III-iv-V-VI-vii*-i

Harmonic Motion Pull Chart

Major Progressions: iii-vi/ii, ii*-IV-IV-V, V⁷/vii⁷-I
Minor Progressions: III-VI/ii*,iv, ii⁷-V, V⁷/vii*, vii⁷-I

Chord and Figured Bass Inversions

Triads:
- Root Position: 5/3
- First Inversion: 6 or 6/3
- Second Inversion: 6/4
7th Chords:
- Root Position: 7
- 1st Inversion: 6/5
- 2nd Inversion: 4/3
- 3rd Inversion: 4/2

Accidentals in Figured Bass

Accidentals apply to the notes above the bass line, with slashes indicating raises.

Chord Patterns

Dominant 7th: Major/minor/minor
Major 7th: Major/Major/Major
Minor 7th: minor/Major/minor
Half Diminished 7th: minor/minor/Major
Fully Diminished 7th: minor/minor/minor

Types of Harmonic Progressions

Progression (P) indicates forward motion.
Elision skips chords on the pull chart.
Retrogression (R) denotes backward motion.
Repetition (S) repeats a chord functionally.

Types of Music

Modal Music is centered on scales without a key.
Tonal Music is based around a key, typically starting and ending on the tonic.

Scale Degree Names

1: Tonic
2: Supertonic
3: Mediant
4: Subdominant
5: Dominant
6: Submediant
7: Leading Tone
8: Tonic

Cadences

Cadences serve as musical punctuation marking the end of a phrase, often consisting of a two-chord progression.
Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC) denotes a strong resolution.

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Description

Prepare for the AP Music Theory exam with these flashcards focused on key signatures. Each card defines a major and minor key using the number of sharps or flats. A perfect study aid for mastering music theory concepts.