Music Theory Essentials Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Sponsor: Music theory course available at artmaster.com.
• Purpose: To expand your music vocabulary by understanding key music theory terms.

Key Music Theory Terms

Melody

• Conjunct: Melody that moves by step (Example: "With a Little Help From My Friend").
• Disjunct: Melody with leaps (Example: "Here There and Everywhere").

Scale

• Definition: A set of notes ordered by pitch, used to evoke sound.
• Semitone: Smallest interval between two notes. Example: B to C.
• Tone: Two semitones. Example: C to D.

Interval

• Definition: The space between two pitches.
• Octave: Interval between a note and the next same-named note.
• Perfect Fifth: Interval between C and G, considered consonant.
• Tritone: Dissonant interval of three tones.

Chords

• Chord: Three or more notes played together.
• Triad: A three-note chord.
  • Major Triad: Consists of a major third and a minor third.
  • Minor Triad: Consists of a minor third and a major third.
• Tertiary Harmony: Chords built from thirds.
• Quartal Harmony: Chords from fourths (Example: Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage").

Arpeggio

• Definition: A chord played one note at a time (Example: "Clocks" by Coldplay).

Musical Phrases

• Riff: A short, repeated melodic phrase.
• Ostinato: A repeating phrase underpinning music (Example: Gustav Holst's Mars).
• Motif: A short recurring phrase or idea.
  • Used as building blocks for melodies.
  • Sequence: Repeating a motif at a different pitch.

Diminution and Augmentation

• Diminution: Cutting note values in half.
• Augmentation: Doubling note values.

Inversion

• Melody Inversion: Flipping a motif upside down.
• Chord Inversion: Changing the order of notes in a chord.

Modulation

• Definition: Key change.
• Cadence: Resolving chord progression.
• Tonicization: Brief key change.

Transposition

• Definition: Rewriting music in a different key.

Key Concepts

• Key: The tonal center of music.
• Diatonic: Staying within the key.
• Chromatic: Playing notes outside the key.
• Accidental: A symbol indicating a chromatic note.
• Enharmonic: Different names for the same pitch (e.g., G♭ and F♯).

Jazz Terminology

• Comping: Accompanying a soloist.
• Vamp: Short repeated chord progression.
• Changes: Chord changes in a jazz piece.
• Head Arrangement: Playing the main melody followed by solos.
• Tritone Substitution: Replacing a chord with another a tritone away.
• Swing: Variation in rhythm timing.

Time Signatures

• Compound Time Signature: Grouping notes in triplets (e.g., 6/8, 12/8).
• Meter: The beats per bar.

Notation

• Stave/Staff: Five horizontal lines for notes.
• Clef: Symbol indicating pitch on the stave.

Ornaments and Articulations

• Grace Notes: Quick notes before main notes.
• Trill: Quick alternation between two notes.
• Turn: Quick sequence of notes around a main note.
• Mordent: Quick alternation involving adjacent notes.
• Staccato: Short, detached notes.
• Legato: Smoothly connecting notes.

Rhythm

• Flam: Quick succession of two notes.
• Syncopation: Rhythm emphasizing non-strong beats.
• Anacrusis: Pickup notes before the first bar.

Elements of Music

• Harmony: Simultaneous notes creating chords.
• Melody: Sequence of notes forming a tune.
• Rhythm: Timing of notes in music.
• Dynamics: Loudness or softness (Forte/Piano).
• Timbre: Characteristic sound of an instrument.
• Texture: Layers of sound (Monophonic, Polyphonic, Homophonic).

Miscellaneous

• Glissando: Smooth slide between notes.
• Portamento: Small glide to the next note.
• Tremolo: Rapid fluctuation in volume.
• Vibrato: Rapid fluctuation in pitch.
• Acapella: Vocal music without instrumental accompaniment.

Conclusion

• Course Promotion: Music theory course available for in-depth learning.
• Further Learning: Encouragement to leave comments for additional topics.