Chapter 1 Flashcards
What is the difference between half steps and whole steps?
Half steps are the smallest interval in Western music, while whole steps consist of two half steps
Half steps occur between adjacent keys on a keyboard, while whole steps skip one key.
What are enharmonic pitches?
Pitches that sound the same but are notated differently
For example, C# and Db are enharmonic equivalents.
What are accidentals in music notation?
Symbols that alter the pitch of a note, including sharps (#), flats (b), double sharps (x), double flats (bb), and naturals
Accidentals apply to notes within the measure they are written.
What is the significance of octave numbers?
They indicate the pitch range of notes on the keyboard and staff
For example, C4 refers to Middle C.
What do ledger lines indicate?
They extend the staff to notate pitches that fall outside the standard range
Ledger lines are used for notes above or below the staff.
How do you differentiate between duple, triple, and quadruple meters?
Duple has 2 beats per measure, triple has 3, and quadruple has 4
Time signatures indicate the meter type.
What are the types of note values?
Whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes
Each type has a specific duration relative to the whole note.
Fill in the blank: The symbol for a crescendo indicates _______.
gradually getting louder
What is syncopation in rhythm?
The rhythmic displacement of accents
It creates a feeling of surprise or off-beat timing.
What is the whole-half pattern for constructing major scales?
Whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step
This pattern applies to all major scales.
What does the solfege system represent?
The syllables used to denote the degrees of the scale: Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti
These correspond to scale degrees: tonic, supertonic, mediant, etc.
Fill in the blank: The tonic note in a scale is represented by _______.
Do
What happens when sharps or flats are removed from key signatures?
It alters the key of the music
For example, removing a flat from Bb Major changes it to C Major.
List the degree names in a scale.
- Tonic (^1)
- Supertonic (^2)
- Mediant (^3)
- Subdominant (^4)
- Dominant (^5)
- Submediant (^6)
- Leading Tone (^7)
True or False: The bottom number in a time signature indicates the type of note that receives one beat.
True
What is an anacrusis in music?
A pickup note or notes that precede the first downbeat of a measure
It sets up the rhythm for the piece.
What is the purpose of dynamic markings in music?
To indicate changes in volume during a performance
Examples include symbols for forte (loud) and piano (soft).
What are triplets in music?
Groups of three notes played in the duration of two notes of the same value
They create a unique rhythmic feel.
What is the role of tempo markings?
To indicate the speed of the music
Terms like allegro (fast) and adagio (slow) are commonly used.
What is a half step in music?
A half step is the smallest interval in Western music, equivalent to one semitone.
What is a whole step in music?
A whole step is an interval that consists of two half steps, equivalent to two semitones.
True or False: A half step can also be referred to as a semitone.
True
How many half steps are there in an octave?
There are 12 half steps in an octave.
Fill in the blank: A whole step consists of ______ half steps.
two
On a keyboard, which keys represent a half step?
Adjacent keys, including both white and black keys, represent a half step.
What is the distance between C and C# on the keyboard?
The distance is a half step.
What is the distance between C and D on the keyboard?
The distance is a whole step.
True or False: The interval between E and F is a half step.
True
True or False: The interval between B and C is a whole step.
False
What do you call the musical notation that represents pitches on a staff?
The notation is called a musical staff.
How are whole steps represented on a staff?
Whole steps are represented by skipping one line or space between notes.
How are half steps represented on a staff?
Half steps are represented by notes that are on adjacent lines or spaces.
What is the relationship between half steps and the chromatic scale?
The chromatic scale is composed entirely of half steps.
What is the relationship between whole steps and the major scale?
A major scale is constructed using a pattern of whole and half steps.
Fill in the blank: The pattern of whole and half steps in a major scale is: Whole, Whole, ______, Whole, Whole, Whole, ______.
Half, Half
True or False: A whole step can be represented by moving from one white key to the next white key.
False
What is the interval between D and E on the keyboard?
The interval is a whole step.
What is the interval between A and A#?
The interval is a half step.
True or False: The distance from G to G# is a half step.
True
What visual aid can help identify half and whole steps on a keyboard?
A keyboard diagram can help identify half and whole steps.
What is the significance of half steps in music theory?
Half steps are essential for understanding scales, chords, and intervals.
Fill in the blank: The interval from F to G is a ______ step.
whole
What does the term ‘enharmonic’ refer to in relation to half and whole steps?
Enharmonic refers to notes that sound the same but are written differently, such as C# and Db.
How can you demonstrate a half step on a keyboard?
By playing two adjacent keys, such as E and F.
What interval is formed by playing the notes C and D#?
The interval is a minor third, which consists of three half steps.
What is a diatonic half step?
A diatonic half step is the smallest interval between two notes that are within the same scale, typically involving two adjacent notes in a major or minor scale.
True or False: A chromatic half step involves notes that are not in the same scale.
True
Fill in the blank: The distance between C and C# is an example of a __________ half step.
chromatic
Which of the following is a diatonic half step? A) C to C# B) E to F C) G to G#
B) E to F
What is the primary difference between diatonic and chromatic half steps?
The primary difference is that diatonic half steps occur between notes in the same scale, while chromatic half steps occur between notes that are not necessarily in the same scale.
True or False: All chromatic half steps are enharmonically equivalent.
True
List two examples of diatonic half steps.
E to F and B to C
What interval does a chromatic half step represent?
A chromatic half step represents the interval of one semitone.
In the context of scales, which type of half step is more common in major scales?
Diatonic half steps
Choose the correct answer: A chromatic half step from D would be __________. A) D to D# B) D to E C) D to Db
A) D to D#
What is a diatonic scale?
A diatonic scale is a seven-note scale that consists of five whole steps and two half steps.
True or False: A chromatic scale consists of only seven notes.
False: A chromatic scale consists of twelve notes, each a half step apart.
Fill in the blank: The diatonic scale is characterized by a specific pattern of _____ and _____ steps.
whole; half
What is the primary difference between diatonic and chromatic scales?
The primary difference is that diatonic scales have a specific pattern of whole and half steps, while chromatic scales include all twelve pitches in an octave.
Which scale is used to create melodies and harmonies in Western music?
The diatonic scale.
Multiple Choice: Which of the following is a type of diatonic scale?
Major scale.
True or False: The chromatic scale can be used to create melodies.
True: While less common, chromatic scales can be used in melodies.
What are the two types of diatonic scales?
Major scale and minor scale.
Fill in the blank: The chromatic scale includes all the _____ in an octave.
notes
Short Answer: Name one musical genre that primarily uses diatonic scales.
Classical music.
