Music Theory

MUSIC 101: Fundamentals of Music LESSON 11: Major chords/Major triads and Chord Progression Now that we have covered intervals, we can start stacking intervals to make chords. Chords are important because they are used to create harmonic support for melodies. I will introduce you to major chords in this lesson and a basic harmonic progression that you can use for your own melodies.

C-Major F-Major ____________ ________________ ________________ * Note: Typically, uppercase letters are used to refer to major triads. This is also the case for Major keys. Minor triads and minor keys typically use lowercase letters, c-minor for example.

Chords Related to a Key or Scale * Note about Keys: Key in the musical system we are studying refers to the music that is made from a particular scale. A musical work might use all the notes of the C-major scale for example, but it is actually in the key of C-major. The idea of key implies a whole set of relationships between the tones of the scale. The tonic is the first note in the scale and it is the most important pitch in a key. All the other tones of the key revolve around the tonic. I think of tonic as “Home base”. This is where pieces most often begin and the tone where they end. Likewise, you can have a tonic triad. This is the triad built on the tonic note or the first scale degree of the scale. It forms the “Home base” harmony for whatever key the music is using. If the music uses the pitches from the D-major scale, it is in the key of D-major and the tonic is D.

Chords Progression

* Note: Chord progressions are what give musical works their forward motion. Melodies are written “over” chord progressions and move with them. The I IV V I progression is given here because so much music is written with just those four chords. Progressions, however, can include many other triads and in more complicated patterns.

Assignment:

1. Write the chords indicated in bass clef.

2. Write the chords indicated in treble clef.

3. Write the I IV V I progression in the following keys. Put the Roman numerals below the staff and the letter names for the chords above the staff.

The Dominant 7th Chord

Minor Triads

In major keys, we have seen that triads built on the first, fourth and fifth scale degrees are major (I, IV, V). Triads built on the second, third and sixth scale degrees of a major scale are minor (ii, iii, vi). *Typically, uppercase Roman numerals are used to refer to major triads and lowercase for minor. Notice that when we build triads or chords, we are simply stacking thirds. The major triad has a major third on the bottom with a minor third stacked on top. The minor triad has a minor third on the bottom with a major third stacked on top.

On the staff below, write the indicated major triads. Then adjust each triad to make them minor.

On the staff below, first write in the key signature for D major. Then write the notes of the D- major scale. Fill in the triads for each scale degree and below the staff, use Roman numerals to identify the triad (use uppercase for major triads and lowercase for minor). **Note: We haven’t covered the triad built on the 7th scale degree. That triad is called diminished and is built by stacking two minor thirds. The Roman numeral symbol for the chord is lowercase (vii) with a degree (°) sign – vii°.

Write the I vi ii V7 I chord progression in F-major.

1. For each staff below, first write in the key signature. Then write the notes of the major scale. Fill in the triads for each scale degree and below the staff, use Roman numerals to identify the triad (use uppercase for major triads and lowercase for minor). Use the vii° symbol for the triad on the seventh scale degree.

2. Write the indicated minor triads.

MUS 001 Chord Spelling and Identification Practice: Spell the following chords:

A Dm Dbm Go B+ C#m Eo

B Eb+ Abm F# E Co Gb Write the Roman numerals under each chord:

Write the chords that match the Roman numeral, you may use a key signature:

F#m: i6 ii V4

3 iv6 4 viio V4

2 i

Write the Key signatures for the following key:

Cm Db F# A Gm Em C#m

Dm E B Bm Eb Fm F Draw the Circle of 5ths:

MUS 001 Final Review Sheets:

1. Vocabulary: Enharmonic Spelling- Chord FuncCon- RelaCve Key- Parallel Key- Compound vs. Simple meter- 2. Draw 2 percussions clefs with 4 measures each. One in four four and the other in six eight. Complete the measures (1pt each) using at least 3 different duraCon symbols (1pt each) and at least 3 different rests (1pt each). 3. IdenCfy the following intervals:

4. Write the following key signatures on the staff:

F#m Db B E Dm C#m Ab 5. Name the major AND minor keys for the following key signatures:

6. Write the Whole (W) and Half (H) step pa[ern for these scales: (2pts each)

Major: Minor: 7. Draw a Bass clef on the staff and write an E major scale. DO NOT use a key signature.

8. Draw a treble clef and write an e harmonic minor scale. You MUST use a key signature. (10pts)

9. Build the following chords using these pitches as roots. (6pts)

diminished Augmented Major minor 10. Label the following meters: (2pts each) 3 9 2 3 8 8 2 4 11. Write a dominant seventh chord in root posiCon and all three inversions in the key of B. Then write the median triad in all three inversions. THEN: Write the roman numerals with appropriate figured bass below and use a key signature-

12.

Db GX Ab F#

13. What are func,on labels for the following chords: V vi I IV

ii iii vii 14. Write a bass clef and the key signature for d minor on the staff. Then add chords and roman numerals for the following funcCon labels. Sub Mediant Super Tonic Leading Tone Sub Dominant:

15. Write the following non-chord tones on the staff:

16. IdenCfy the following chords with roman numerals and figured bass in the given key:

MUSIC 101: Fundamentals of Music LESSON 11: Major chords/Major triads and Chord Progression Now that we have covered intervals, we can start stacking intervals to make chords. Chords are important because they are used to create harmonic support for melodies. I will introduce you to major chords in this lesson and a basic harmonic progression that you can use for your own melodies.

C-Major F-Major ____________ ________________ ________________ * Note: Typically, uppercase letters are used to refer to major triads. This is also the case for Major keys. Minor triads and minor keys typically use lowercase letters, c-minor for example.

Chords Related to a Key or Scale * Note about Keys: Key in the musical system we are studying refers to the music that is made from a particular scale. A musical work might use all the notes of the C-major scale for example, but it is actually in the key of C-major. The idea of key implies a whole set of relationships between the tones of the scale. The tonic is the first note in the scale and it is the most important pitch in a key. All the other tones of the key revolve around the tonic. I think of tonic as “Home base”. This is where pieces most often begin and the tone where they end. Likewise, you can have a tonic triad. This is the triad built on the tonic note or the first scale degree of the scale. It forms the “Home base” harmony for whatever key the music is using. If the music uses the pitches from the D-major scale, it is in the key of D-major and the tonic is D.

Chords Progression

* Note: Chord progressions are what give musical works their forward motion. Melodies are written “over” chord progressions and move with them. The I IV V I progression is given here because so much music is written with just those four chords. Progressions, however, can include many other triads and in more complicated patterns.

Assignment:

1. Write the chords indicated in bass clef.

2. Write the chords indicated in treble clef.

3. Write the I IV V I progression in the following keys. Put the Roman numerals below the staff and the letter names for the chords above the staff.

The Dominant 7th Chord

Minor Triads

In major keys, we have seen that triads built on the first, fourth and fifth scale degrees are major (I, IV, V). Triads built on the second, third and sixth scale degrees of a major scale are minor (ii, iii, vi). *Typically, uppercase Roman numerals are used to refer to major triads and lowercase for minor. Notice that when we build triads or chords, we are simply stacking thirds. The major triad has a major third on the bottom with a minor third stacked on top. The minor triad has a minor third on the bottom with a major third stacked on top.

On the staff below, write the indicated major triads. Then adjust each triad to make them minor.

On the staff below, first write in the key signature for D major. Then write the notes of the D- major scale. Fill in the triads for each scale degree and below the staff, use Roman numerals to identify the triad (use uppercase for major triads and lowercase for minor). **Note: We haven’t covered the triad built on the 7th scale degree. That triad is called diminished and is built by stacking two minor thirds. The Roman numeral symbol for the chord is lowercase (vii) with a degree (°) sign – vii°.

Write the I vi ii V7 I chord progression in F-major.

1. For each staff below, first write in the key signature. Then write the notes of the major scale. Fill in the triads for each scale degree and below the staff, use Roman numerals to identify the triad (use uppercase for major triads and lowercase for minor). Use the vii° symbol for the triad on the seventh scale degree.

2. Write the indicated minor triads.