Page 2: Circle of Fifths and Scale Degrees

This page details the circle of fifths and its relationship to key signatures, providing a systematic approach to understanding key relationships and scale degree names.

Definition: The circle of fifths is a clockwise progression counting up five notes, while moving counterclockwise counts down four notes.

Example: To identify keys with sharps, look one note above the last sharp. For flats, the second-to-last flat indicates the key.

Highlight: Key identification involves checking both the key signature and locating the tonic note at the beginning and end of the piece.

Vocabulary: Scale degrees include tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, and leading tone.

Page 3: Scale Degrees and Special Scale Forms

This page explores the meaning and function of scale degrees, along with special scale forms including pentatonic scales and tetrachords.

Definition: The major pentatonic scale omits the leading tone, using only do, re, mi, sol, and la.

Example: The major pentachord uses only the first five notes of the scale (do, re, mi, fa, sol).

Highlight: A major scale consists of two major tetrachords $1-4$ and $6-8$.

Vocabulary: The leading tone is called a "tendency tone" because it leads upward towards the tonic.

Quote: "The dominant 'dominates' tonal music."

Page 1: Fundamental Concepts and Key Signatures

This page introduces essential concepts in how to identify key signature in music theory and scale construction. The relationship between diatonic and chromatic elements is explained, along with key signature fundamentals.

Vocabulary: Chromatic comes from the Greek word "chroma" meaning color, referring to pitches outside the diatonic scale.

Definition: A pitch collection is an unordered list of unique pitches without duplicates.

Example: The major scale follows a specific pattern of whole steps (W) and half steps (H): W W H W W W H.

Highlight: The order of sharps (FCGDAEB) and flats (BEADGCF) is crucial for understanding key signatures.

Quote: "Use solfege when able - it helps!"