Music Theory Lesson 1
Category: Music
Intervals: There are 12 notes in music. C Db/C# D Eb/D# E F Gb/F# G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C. The distance between one note to the next is called intervals. Each distance has its own name
C->Db is a minor second
C->D is a Major second
C->D#/Eb is a augmented 2nd or minor third
C->E is a Major third
C->F is a perfect fourth
C->F#/Gb is a augmented 4th/diminished 5th. Also known as a tritone.
C->G is a perfect 5th
C->Ab is a minor 6th
C->A is a Major 6th
C->Bb is a minor 7th
C->B is a Major 7th
C->C is a perfect Octave.
Key Signatures
One of the first things I learned was being able to read key signatures. 1#, 2#s, 3#s, and etc. To be able to remember this you need to remember that C has no sharps or flats. To go up to 1#, you go up a perfect 5th. So count from C (CDEFG). So G has one sharp. You continue going a 5th up until you get to 7#'s. Here it is. On the last 2 there are sharps in the key because from B->F and F->C is a perfect 5th.
C
G 1#
D 2#
A 3#
E 4#
B 5#
F# 6#
C# 7#
You also go the opposite way. Reverse circle of fifths or circle of fourths to get the flats or b sign. Here it is reversed.
C
F b
Bb bb
Eb bbb
Ab bbbb
Db bbbbb
Gb bbbbbb
Cb bbbbbbb
To figure out which note is sharp on your signature or memorize. In the sharps you just count back a minor 2nd. So if the key is in G, F#>G is a minor 2nd. So F is the only sharp since the key signature only has one sharp. In the key of D, you have 2 sharps. You keep the F# and add the new one. C#>D is a minor 2nd so the 2 sharps are F and C. Here they are all written down.
C
G (F#)
D (F# C#)
A (F# C# G#)
E (F# C# G# D#)
B (F# C# G# D# A#)
F# (F# C# G# D# A#P E#)
C# (F# C# G# D# A# E# B#)
Alright now how to remember which notes are flat if you are in a key that is flat. Remember that the key that it is in, just go up a 4th and you get the notes that are flat.
C
F (Bb)
Bb (Bb Eb)
Eb (Bb Eb Ab)
Ab (Bb Eb Ab Db)
Db (Bb Eb Ab Db Gb)
Gb (Bb Eb Ab Db Gb Cb)
Cb ((Bb Eb Ab Db Cb Fb)
Fb (Bb Eb Ab Db Cb Fb Bbb) Bbb is really A but to fit the key signature theoretically, it needs to show up as Bbb. Alright I'll be sure to add on to this soon. Here is a link that will help on fifths if you have problems remembering. My goal is to help others understand Neo-Classical by starting at the beginning of theory and eventually be able to create Neo-Classical and etc.
http://www.jazzbooks.com/miva/documents/ha..._of_fourths.pdfPS Sharps don't seem to show up so I have to write in sharp.
