Scales & Chords Flashcards
Major Scale
WWH WWWH
Natural Minor Scale
WH WWH WW
Major Scale Chords
I ii iii IV V vi dim7
Scale Degree Names
- Tonic
- Supertonic
- Mediant
- Subdominant
- Dominant
- Submediant
- Leading Tone
Name of the first degree in a scale
Tonic
Name of 2nd degree in a scale
Supertonic
Name of the 3rd degree in a scale
Mediant
Name of the 4th degree in a scale
Subdominant
Name of the 5th degree in a scale
Dominant
Name of the 6th degree in a scale
Submediant
Name of the 7th degree in a scale
Leading Tone
What does Diatonic mean?
Notes that belong in the scale
What does Chromatic mean?
Notes that are outside of the scale
What is a chords first inversion?
When the 3rd is in the bass
What is a chords second inversion?
When the 5th is in the bass
Harmonic Minor
WH WWH W+H Half
Tonic Family (Functional Harmony)
Strong and Stable chords that don’t have a need to resolve anywhere
I iii vi
in major keys = chords built on the 1st, 3rd and 6th scale degrees
i III
in minor keys = chords built on the 1st and 3rd degrees
Subdominant Family (Functional Harmony)
ii IV viidim
in major keys = chords built on the 2nd, 4th and 7th scale degrees
iidim iv v VI VII
in major keys = chords built on the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 7th scale degrees
“weak”, carries tension that wants to resolve to tonic or dominant
Dominant Family (Functional Harmony)
V
in major keys = chords built on the 5th scale degrees
In minor keys = doesn’t have any diatonic chords in the natural minor scale that have dominant function, but it can borrow it from the Harmonic Minor Scale. Just add the V chord to the scale. You can have both minor v and major V to use.
Super Weak, carres a LOT of tension that wants to resolve to the tonic.
Minor Scale Chords
i iidim III iv v VI VII
Authentic Cadence
V7 to the I chord
