Chord II – The Supertonic
You should already be familiar with the tonic, dominant and subdominant chords/triads. If not, please see Triads and Chords before reading this lesson! The chord built up from the 2nd …
Transposing by a 4th or 5th
In this lesson we will learn how to move a tune up or down by the interval of a perfect 4th or perfect 5th. This is the interval of transposition …
Transposing by a 2nd or 3rd
Most clarinets and trumpets are pitched “in Bb”, which means that the sounds produced by the instrument are a major 2nd lower than written. To work out how music written …
Transposing Instruments
What note do you hear when you play this note on the piano? You hear a middle C, of course. But if you play the same note on a clarinet, …
Intervals in a Score
In your music theory exam, you might be given a musical score, with questions about finding or naming intervals in that score. There are a few extra things to keep …
Compound Intervals
Compound Intervals You should already know how to work out the interval (quality and number) between any two notes that are an octave apart or less. If you need to …
Key Signatures
Relative Major and Minor Keys Each key signature represents one major key, and one minor key. These two keys are called “relative” keys – they share a key signature because …
Identifying the Key (ABRSM Grade 5)
In ABRSM grade 5 theory you are normally asked to work out the key of some music without a key signature. You are given four key options for each melody. …
Scales in Any Clef (ABRSM Grade 5)
In the ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory exam you may be asked to identify the correct clef of a scale. The correct clef might be treble, bass, alto or tenor. …
Minor Scales with 6 Sharps/Flats
D# Minor The D# minor scales share most of their notes with the F# major scale. Both keys have six sharps in the key signature. Here are the D# minor …