Music Theory Fundamentals: Skibby Style

Introduction

• Overview of music theory basics, presented in a humorous 'skibby' style.

Notes and Pitches

• White Keys: A B C D E F G (loops back to A)
• Black Keys: Represent sharp (#) or flat (b) versions of these notes.
• Staff and Clefs:
  • Treble Clef: For higher pitch instruments (e.g., violin, flute).
  • Bass Clef: For lower pitch instruments (e.g., double bass, tuba).
• Reading Notes:
  • Treble Clef Lines Mnemonic: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
  • Treble Clef Spaces Mnemonic: FACE
  • Bass Clef Lines Mnemonic: Good Boys Deserve Fudge Always
  • Bass Clef Spaces Mnemonic: All Cows Eat Grass

Key Signatures

• Sharps or flats indicate that particular notes are always played sharp or flat unless a natural sign is present.

Scales

• Major Scale: Follows a specific pattern that gives a 'happy' sound.
• Minor Scale: Has a different pattern with a 'sadder' sound.
• Chromatic Scale: Includes all 12 notes in order.

Rhythm

• Time Signatures:
  • 4/4: Common time (count 1-2-3-4)
  • 3/4: Waltz time (count 1-2-3)
• Note Values:
  • Quarter note, eighth notes (two per quarter note), sixteenth notes (four per quarter note).
• Tempo: Speed of the music; includes terms like Allegro (fast) and Adagio (slow).
• Syncopation: Off-beat rhythm.

Dynamics

• Volume Indications:
  • Piano (p): Soft
  • Forte (f): Loud
  • Mezzo Forte (mf): Medium loud
• Crescendo: Gradually getting louder.
• Decrescendo: Gradually getting quieter.

Melody

• Contour: The shape of the melody (up/down movement).
• Intervals: Distance between notes, including steps and leaps.
• Tritone: Known as the 'Devil's Interval'.
• Motif: A recurring phrase or theme.

Harmony

• Chords:
  • Triad: A chord with three notes.
  • Major Chord: Sounds 'happy'.
  • Minor Chord: Sounds 'sad'.
  • Inversions: Changing the order of notes in a chord.
  • Diminished Chord: Sounds tense or 'unstable'.
  • Augmented Chord: Has a 'floating' quality.

Texture

• Homophonic Texture: Melody with chordal accompaniment.
• Polyphonic Texture: Multiple independent melodies.
• Monophonic Texture: Single melody line without accompaniment.

Form

• Binary Form (AB): Two contrasting sections.
• Ternary Form (ABA): Three-part form, returns to the first section.
• Rondo Form (ABACA): Recurring theme with alternating sections.
• Pop Music Structure: Verse, Pre-Chorus, Chorus, Bridge, etc.
• Sonata Form: Classical structure with Exposition, Development, Recapitulation.

Conclusion

• Recap of music theory essentials as presented in a fun, engaging way.