Music Theory Primer
July 19, 2017
This is an overview of the fundamentals of music theory. Fluency in these elements is crucial on any instrument. The assignments in each section should be mastered in their order of appearance.
Unison (0 semitones)
Minor 2nd (1 semitone)
Major 2nd (2 semitones)
Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
Major 3rd (4 semitones)
Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
Tritone (6 semitones)
Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
Minor 6th (8 semitones)
Major 6th (9 semitones)
Minor 7th (10 semitones)
Major 7th (11 semitones)
Octave (12 semitones)
Assignment: learn how to play all the intervals from any starting note.
Also known as the major scale modes. The notes themselves are derived from the same tonal space, we’re only changing the reference point for what’s considered the root to create different sounding environments.
Ionian - I
Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 7th
Dorian - ii
Root, major 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, minor 7th
Phyrgian - iii
Root, minor 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, minor 6th, major 7th
Lydian - IV
Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, augmented 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 7th
Mixolydian - V
Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, minor 7th
Aeolian - vi
Root, major 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, minor 6th, minor 7th
Locrian - vii
Root, minor 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, diminished 5th, minor 6th, major 7th
Assignment: learn how to play all the modes in all the keys.
R = root, m = minor, M = major, b = flat, # = sharp
Major chords:
Major -- R, 3, 5
Major 7 -- R, 3, 5, 7
Major 9 -- R, 3, 5, 7, 9
Major 11 -- R, 3, 5, 7, 9, #11
Major 13 -- R, 3, 5, 7, 9, #11, 13
Minor chords:
Minor -- R, b3, 5
Minor 7 -- R, b3, 5, b7
Minor 9 -- R, b3, 5, b7, 9
Minor 11 -- R, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11
Minor 13 -- R, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11, 13
Dominant chords:
7 -- R, 3, 5, b7
9 -- R, 3, 5, b7, 9
11 -- R, 3, 5, b7, 9, #11
13 -- R, 3, 5, b7, 9, #11, 13
Half-diminished chords:
7 -- R, b3, b5, b7
9 -- R, b3, b5, b7, 9
11 -- R, b3, b5, b7, 9, 11
13 -- R, b3, b5, b7, 9, 11, b13
Fully diminished chords:
7 -- R, b3, b5, bb7
9 -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9
11 -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9, #11
13 -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9, #11, b13
(Add M7) -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9, #11, b13, 7
Assignment: learn how to play all the chord types in all the keys.
I - Major 7 (Ionian)
ii - Minor 7 (Dorian)
iii - Minor 7 (Phrygian)
IV - Major 7 (Lydian)
V - Dominant 7 (Mixolydian)
vi - Minor 7 (Aeolian)
vii - Half diminished 7 (Locrian)
Assignment: play all the diatonic 7th chords in all the keys. Play arpeggiated unless you’re a keyboard player, in which case they made be played harmonically.
Intervals
Unison (0 semitones)
Minor 2nd (1 semitone)
Major 2nd (2 semitones)
Minor 3rd (3 semitones)
Major 3rd (4 semitones)
Perfect 4th (5 semitones)
Tritone (6 semitones)
Perfect 5th (7 semitones)
Minor 6th (8 semitones)
Major 6th (9 semitones)
Minor 7th (10 semitones)
Major 7th (11 semitones)
Octave (12 semitones)
Assignment: learn how to play all the intervals from any starting note.
The Seven Church Modes
Also known as the major scale modes. The notes themselves are derived from the same tonal space, we’re only changing the reference point for what’s considered the root to create different sounding environments.
Ionian - I
Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 7th
Dorian - ii
Root, major 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, minor 7th
Phyrgian - iii
Root, minor 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, minor 6th, major 7th
Lydian - IV
Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, augmented 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, major 7th
Mixolydian - V
Root, major 2nd, major 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, major 6th, minor 7th
Aeolian - vi
Root, major 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, perfect 5th, minor 6th, minor 7th
Locrian - vii
Root, minor 2nd, minor 3rd, perfect 4th, diminished 5th, minor 6th, major 7th
Assignment: learn how to play all the modes in all the keys.
Chord Types
R = root, m = minor, M = major, b = flat, # = sharp
Major chords:
Major -- R, 3, 5
Major 7 -- R, 3, 5, 7
Major 9 -- R, 3, 5, 7, 9
Major 11 -- R, 3, 5, 7, 9, #11
Major 13 -- R, 3, 5, 7, 9, #11, 13
Minor chords:
Minor -- R, b3, 5
Minor 7 -- R, b3, 5, b7
Minor 9 -- R, b3, 5, b7, 9
Minor 11 -- R, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11
Minor 13 -- R, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11, 13
Dominant chords:
7 -- R, 3, 5, b7
9 -- R, 3, 5, b7, 9
11 -- R, 3, 5, b7, 9, #11
13 -- R, 3, 5, b7, 9, #11, 13
Half-diminished chords:
7 -- R, b3, b5, b7
9 -- R, b3, b5, b7, 9
11 -- R, b3, b5, b7, 9, 11
13 -- R, b3, b5, b7, 9, 11, b13
Fully diminished chords:
7 -- R, b3, b5, bb7
9 -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9
11 -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9, #11
13 -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9, #11, b13
(Add M7) -- R, b3, b5, bb7, 9, #11, b13, 7
Assignment: learn how to play all the chord types in all the keys.
Diatonic 7th Chords
I - Major 7 (Ionian)
ii - Minor 7 (Dorian)
iii - Minor 7 (Phrygian)
IV - Major 7 (Lydian)
V - Dominant 7 (Mixolydian)
vi - Minor 7 (Aeolian)
vii - Half diminished 7 (Locrian)
Assignment: play all the diatonic 7th chords in all the keys. Play arpeggiated unless you’re a keyboard player, in which case they made be played harmonically.