Borrowed Chords and Parallel Keys
Parallel Keys Parallel keys are the major and minor using the same tonic, for example C major and C minor are parallel keys. Sometimes parallel keys use enharmonic equivalents, to …
Chromatic Chords
Chromatic Chords Diatonic chords are the ones which are built from the scale of the prevailing key. Chromatic chords use one or more notes which do not exist in the …
Extended Dominant Chords
Extended Dominants (V9, V11, V13) The dominant chord can be extended further than the usual addition of a 7th (V7). By continuing to add the note a third higher each …
The Neapolitan 6th
One of the most commonly-used chromatic chords in the Classical period (and beyond) is the Neapolitan 6th chord, or “N6”. This is a major chord, built from the flattened supertonic …
Identifying the Era
Identifying the Era of a Score In your music theory exam you may be asked to identify the era or possible composer of a score you have not seen before. …
The Romantic Era
The Romantic era in music was (roughly) between the years 1830 to 1900. Some of the most famous composers of this era are: Robert Schumann, Edward Elgar, Frédéric Chopin, Felix …
Passing Chords
A passing chord is a decorative chord which does not affect the overall harmonic structure of the music – it is like a passing note[1], but written as a whole …
Note Names in Other Languages
Note Names in Other Languages The letter names of the notes A-G which we use in English have different names in other languages. You might see these names written in …