4. Technical Degree Names and Chromatic Scales Flashcards
What is a chromatic scale made up of?
Only semi-tones and contains all twelve notes in the octave.
What are technical degree names used for?
To identify the degrees of a scale.
What is the procedure to use when identifying the technical degree name?
Start at the Tonic and count UP to determine the scale degree.
List the 7 technical degree names starting at 1.
- Tonic
- Supertonic
- Mediant
- Subdominant
- Dominant
- Submediant
- Leading Note
List the technical degree names starting at 8.
- Tonic
- Leading Tone
- Submediant
- Dominant
- Subdominant
- Mediant
- Supertonic
- Tonic
Describe scale degree 8 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Tonic - octave Tonic note
Describe scale degree 7 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Leading note - semitone below Tonic
Describe scale degree 6 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Submediant - 3rd below Tonic
Describe scale degree 5 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Dominant - 5th above the Tonic
Describe scale degree 4 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Subdominant - 5th below the Tonic
Describe scale degree 3 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Mediant - 3rd above Tonic
Describe scale degree 2 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Supertonic - 2nd above the Tonic
Describe scale degree 1 in terms of its technical degree name and its location.
Tonic - 1st note of the key (Key Note)
Where is the 7 degree in the natural minor scale compared to the Major scale and what is it called?
In a natural minor scale the 7 degree (leading note) is a whole tone (whole step) below the Tonic and is called the Subtonic. In a Major scale the Leading Note is a semitone (half step) below the Tonic.
What are Roman numerals used to identify in relation to triads?
The type/quality of a triad built on each degree of a scale.
What are upper case Roman numerals used to identify (I, II, III, IV etc)?
Major triads
What are lower case Roman numerals used to identify (i,ii, iii etc)?
Minor triads
In the Major scale, only triads built on what scale degrees are Major or minor triads?
Tonic, Supertonic, Mediant, Subdominant, Dominant and Submediant.
In the Harmonic minor scale, only triads built on what scale degrees are Major or minor triads?
Tonic, Subdominant, Dominant and Submediant.
What does the Dominant triad in the harmonic minor scale contain?
The raised 7th note (leading note)
A) What keys are used in a Chromatic scale?
B) What does a chromatic scale always begin and end on?
A) All 12 semitones in the octave, plus the upper Tonic for a total of 13.
B) On the same Tonic note.
Describe how a chromatic scale is written.
Chromatic scales always begins and ends on the same Tonic note. A letter name is not repeated more than twice. Can be written using accidentals or using the Major Key Signature of the Tonic note. May be written with or without a centre bar line.
How many types of chromatic scales are there and what are they?
Two. Harmonic Chromatic and Melodic Chromatic.
What is the set form of a Harmonic Chromatic scale?
It uses a single Tonic, Dominant and upper Tonic note ascending, and a single Dominant and Tonic note descending. All other notes are used twice. Double sharps or flats may be necessary to write a note twice.
What does a centre bar line do when writing an harmonic or chromatic scale?
Cancels an accidental. Accidentals have to be rewritten in the descending scale.
Is the a set form for a melodic chromatic scale?
No
What is one standard notation for writing a melodic chromatic scale?
Raise the semitones on the way up (the ascending scale) and lower them on the way down (descending scale). There will be five single notes and all other notes are used twice.
What should you do when writing a melodic chromatic scale that begins on a flat?
Switch to sharps as soon as possible in the ascending scale.
Does a melodic chromatic scale use the exact same notes ascending and descending?
No
How may a melodic chromatic scale be written?
Based on the Major scale using a single note for the Mediant (III), Leading Note (VII) and upper Tonic (VIII) ascending, and Subdominant (IV) and lower Tonic (I) descending. All other notes will be written twice.
What notation of a melodic chromatic is considered correct?
Any standard notation that starts and ends on the same Tonic note and does not use any letter (degree) name more than twice.
What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?
I, IV and IV
What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?
III, VI and VII
What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?
V, VI
What are the major chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?
IV, V
What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?
ii, iii, vi
What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?
i, iv and v
What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?
i, iv
What are the minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?
i, ii
What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?
vii dim
What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?
ii dim
What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?
ii dim, vii dim
What are the diminished minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?
vi dim, vii dim
What are the major augmented chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Major scales?
No augmented chords
What are the augmented minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Natural minor scales?
No augmented chords
What are the augmented minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Harmonic minor scales?
III Aug
What are the augmented minor chords (using scale degrees and Roman numerals) on the diatonic Melodic minor scales?
III Aug
