Music Theory Basics: Notes, Scales, Intervals & Chords

5 lines and 4 spaces

Lines: E G B D F (“Every Good Boy Does Fine”). Spaces: F A C E.

Lines: G B D F A (“Good Boys Do Fine Always”). Spaces: A C E G (“All Cows Eat Grass”).

Whole = 4, half = 2, quarter = 1, eighth = ½

Adds half the note's value. A dotted half note gets 3 beats in 4/4.

Top: how many beats in each measure. Bottom: which note value gets one beat (4 = quarter note, 8 = eighth note).

In simple meter each beat divides into two (2/4, 3/4, 4/4). In compound meter each beat divides into three (6/8, 9/8, 12/8); 6/8 has two dotted-quarter beats.

A sharp (♯) raises a note a half step, a flat (♭) lowers it a half step, and a natural (♮) cancels a sharp or flat.

W W H W W W H

W H W W H W W

Go down 3 half steps (or up to the 6th note of the major scale). C major's relative minor is A minor; they share the same key signature.

Mnemonic for sharps: “Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle.” Flats are the same letters reversed.

G major has one sharp (F♯). F major has one flat (B♭).

A diagram of the 12 keys arranged so each is a perfect fifth from the next; moving clockwise adds a sharp, moving counterclockwise adds a flat.

Minor 3rd = 3, major 3rd = 4, perfect 4th = 5, perfect 5th = 7, octave = 12

Major: major 3rd + minor 3rd Minor: minor 3rd + major 3rd Diminished: minor 3rd + minor 3rd Augmented: major 3rd + major 3rd

C E G

I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii° (uppercase = major, lowercase = minor, ° = diminished)

1 = tonic, 4 = subdominant, 5 = dominant

G B D F; it resolves to C (V7 to I in C major).

Authentic: V to I (sounds final) Plagal: IV to I (the “Amen” cadence) Half: ends on V (sounds unfinished) Deceptive: V to vi (a surprise)

pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff

Largo, Adagio, Andante, Moderato, Allegro, Presto

A tie connects two notes of the same pitch so they're held as one. A slur connects different pitches to be played smoothly (legato).

Syncopation

Enharmonic equivalents

Staccato (a dot above or below the note): play short and detached. Fermata (an eye-shaped symbol): hold the note longer than written.