Scales, Chords, Intervals Flashcards
Name the half step distances for each major interval:
2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th
maj 2nd - 2
maj 3rd - 4
maj 6th - 9
maj 7th - 11
Name all of the half step distances for each 4th/5th interval
perfect 4th, aug 4th, dim 5th, perfect 5th
perfect 4th - 5
aug 4th - 6
dim 5th - 6
perfect 5th - 7
(aug or dim depends on which main note key is referenced)
*also known as tritone
*no min/maj for 4th and 5th
Name the half step distances for each minor interval:
2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th
min 2nd - 1
min 3rd - 3
min 6th - 8
min 7th - 10
Minor Scale Formula (in whole/half steps)
Chord Order
WHWWHWW
Min, Dim, Maj, Min, Min, Maj, Maj
Minor chords have what intervals?
Diminished chords have what intervals?
Minor - min 3rd and perf 5th
Diminished - min 3rd and dim 5th
What are relative scales?
How to find the major relative scale from a minor and vice versa?
Different scales (maj/min) that use the same notes
For major scale the 6th note is the minor scale
For minor scale the 3rd note is the major scale
Major Scale Formula (in whole/half steps)
Chord Order
WWHWWWH
Maj, Min, Min, Maj, Maj, Min, Dim
What is a diatonic chord?
What labeling are they usually described in?
Any chord that uses notes that are in the scale its played in
Roman Numerals - uppercase for maj and lower case for min: “i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii
What are the different types of 7th Chords?
Maj 7th (Maj7) - Maj triad Maj 7
Min 7th (m7) - min triad min 7th
Dominant 7th (7) - Maj triad min 7th
What are chord inversions and specify what the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd inversions are.
When a chord is played without root as the lowest note.
1st inversion - root note is the highest note
2nd inversion - root note is the middle note
3rd inversion - root chord + 7th as the lowest note
*when inverting intervals they become the opposite quality as the original (minor/major)
What is voice leading?
When you utilize chord inversions to keep playing the common notes between chords - makes smoother transitions
Connects chords reducing movement in changing chords
What are slash cords? What does it determine?
A way to refer to “bassline inversions”
When written on a tab or sheet music sometimes there are two chords listed with the first letter being the main chord and the second letter indicating the bass inversion
EX: C/G
Main C chord but playing G for the bassline
For minor triads - what is the step distance between root + 2nd note?
2nd + 3rd note?
3 semitones + 4 semitones = perf 5th
(Root note + minor 3rd + perf 4th)
For major triads - what is the step distance between root + 2nd note?
2nd + 3rd note?
4 semitone + 3 semitones = perf 5th
(Root note + major 3rd + min 3rd)
Name the minor chord groups that have the same shape
What are the B/W keys for D#, A# and B?
- C F G
- C# F# G#
- D E A
D# - all black
A# - BBW
B - BWW
Name the major chord groups that have the same shape
What are the B/W keys for F#, Bb and B?
- C F G
- Db Eb Ab
- D E A
- F# - all black
- Bb -BWW
- B - BBW
Name the diminhed chord groups that have the same shape
What are the key colors for each?
- C# F# G# (BWW)
- D E A (WWB)
- C D (WBB)
- D# A# (BBW)
- F , B (WBW)
What is a suspension?
What does it mean when there is a 4-3 chord suspension?
Taking a note from a previous chord and hold it when playing notes in the next chord.
In the chord change - the 4th note of the root chord is held and then it resolves to the 3rd note.
4-3 is the most common and effective
*it is better to invert chords before adding suspension to see how the chords relate to each other
What is anticipation?
Playing the first chord with a note from the next chord before resolving.
What are sus chords?
What determines their name?
Chords where the 3rd note in the triad is replaced with another note interval to create a “suspension”
Sus 2 - replacing 3rd interval with 2nd interval
Sus 4 - replacing 3rd interval with 4th interval
What is a neighboring tone?
Playing a note in the main chord - going to a tone next to it and then moving back to the original note
What is a passing tone?
Playing a note in the main chord, playing a tone next to it and then “passing” to the next tone
whereas neighboring you go back
What are add note chords?
What is a C maj Add 2 chord? C maj Add 9?
harmonies that include neighboring/passing tones
CmajAdd2 = CDEG
CmajAdd9 = same as Add2 but D can be played outside the triad
What are the step amounts between each note for the following triads?
Major
Minor
Diminshed
Major - Root + 4 + 3
(maj 3rd + min 3rd)
*from root - maj 3rd perf 5th
Minor - Root + 3 + 4
(min 3rd + maj 3rd)
*from root - min 3rd perf 5th
Diminshed - Root + 3 + 3
(min 3rd + min 3rd)
*from root - min 3rd dim 5th