Music Theory Fundamentals

Music Theory

Pitch

• Notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G (7 natural notes)
• Accidentals: Sharps (#), flats (b), naturals ()
• Octaves: 7 natural notes repeat in a cycle, with each octave representing a doubling of frequency
• Scales: Series of notes in a specific pattern, e.g., major, minor, chromatic

Rhythm

• Time signature: Notation indicating rhythm structure, e.g., 4/4 (common time), 3/4 (waltz time)
• Note durations: Whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc.
• Rest: Symbol indicating silence
• Articulation: How notes are played, e.g., legato (smooth), staccato (short and detached)

Harmony

• Chords: Groups of three or more notes played simultaneously
• Intervals: Distance between two pitches, e.g., major, minor, perfect, diminished
• Progressions: Series of chords, e.g., I-IV-V (common progression)
• Functional harmony: Chords and their relationships within a key, e.g., tonic, dominant, subdominant

Form

• Binary form: Two contrasting sections, often repeated
• Ternary form: Three sections, with the first and third being similar
• Rondo form: Alternating themes, with a recurring main theme
• ** Sonata form**: Exposition, development, and recapitulation

Other Concepts

• Key: Group of notes and chords based on a specific tonal center
• Mode: Variation of a scale, e.g., dorian, mixolydian
• Timbre: Unique sound or tone color of an instrument or voice

Music Theory

Pitch

• The musical alphabet consists of 7 natural notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.
• Accidentals, including sharps (#), flats (b), and naturals (), alter the pitch of a note.
• Octaves repeat the 7 natural notes in a cycle, with each octave representing a doubling of frequency.

Rhythm

• A time signature, such as 4/4 (common time) or 3/4 (waltz time), indicates the rhythm structure.
• Note durations, including whole, half, quarter, eighth, and sixteenth, determine the length of a note.
• Rest, a symbol indicating silence, is used in musical notation.
• Articulation, including legato (smooth) and staccato (short and detached), affects the way notes are played.

Harmony

• Chords are groups of three or more notes played simultaneously.
• Intervals, such as major, minor, perfect, and diminished, measure the distance between two pitches.
• Chord progressions, like I-IV-V, are series of chords used in a musical composition.
• Functional harmony explores the relationships between chords within a key, including tonic, dominant, and subdominant.

Form

• Binary form consists of two contrasting sections, often repeated.
• Ternary form features three sections, with the first and third being similar.
• Rondo form alternates between different themes, with a recurring main theme.
• Sonata form, used in larger compositions, consists of exposition, development, and recapitulation.

Other Concepts

• A key is a group of notes and chords based on a specific tonal center.
• Modes, such as dorian and mixolydian, are variations of scales.
• Timbre, the unique sound or tone color, distinguishes an instrument or voice.

Test your knowledge of music theory basics, including notes, scales, rhythm, and time signatures. Learn the fundamental concepts of music theory and improve your musical skills.