Chord III – The Mediant
Chord III (Major Mediant) The mediant triad built from the melodic minor scale is a major chord, because the interval between the root and 5th is a perfect 5th. This …
Chord VI – The Submediant
Chord VI – Submediant The chord built up from the 6th degree of the scale, or submediant note, is called the submediant triad; chord VI or vi. The submediant triad …
Minor Scales with 7 Sharps/Flats
A# Minor A# minor is the relative minor key to C# major. Both have 7 sharps in the key signature. Here are the A# harmonic minor scales: And the A# …
Major Scales with 7 Sharps/Flats
You should already know all the keys and scales with up to six sharps or flats. In this lesson we will look at the keys with seven sharps or flats. …
SATB Close v. Open Scores
In a music theory exam, you might be asked to change an open score (4 staves) into a close score (2 staves), or vice versa. A close score can also …
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 …
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 …
Major Scales with 6 Sharps/Flats
Major Scales All scales have something in common; they have a defined pattern of tones and semitones. All major scales are made up with the following pattern, where T=tone and …
Duplets
We have already learnt about triplets. Just to refresh your memory, triplets are used when we want to play three notes in the space where there would normally be two: The …
Double Dotted Notes
Double Dots A single dot to the right of a note head increases the length of the note by 50% (the note plus half of itself). So, a dotted minim …