Glossary
Circle of Fifths
A visual representation that organizes all major and minor keys by their key signatures, showing the relationships between them in a circular pattern of perfect fifths.
Example:
To quickly find the key signature for E major, one can use the Circle of Fifths and count four sharps clockwise from C major.
Harmonic Minor
A minor scale that raises the seventh scale degree by a half step when ascending and descending, creating a stronger leading tone pull to the tonic.
Example:
The exotic sound often heard in Middle Eastern music can be achieved by utilizing the raised seventh of the Harmonic Minor scale.
Major Mode
A mode often associated with bright, happy, and uplifting sounds, characterized by a specific whole and half step pattern (W-W-H-W-W-W-H).
Example:
Many children's songs are written in the Major Mode to convey a sense of joy and simplicity.
Melodic Minor
A minor scale that raises both the sixth and seventh scale degrees when ascending but reverts to the natural minor form when descending, to create a smoother melodic contour.
Example:
Composers often use the Melodic Minor scale in melodies to avoid the augmented second interval found in the harmonic minor when moving upwards.
Minor Mode
A mode often associated with darker, sad, or introspective sounds, differing from the major mode by a lowered third scale degree.
Example:
The dramatic opening of Beethoven's 5th Symphony immediately establishes a powerful Minor Mode.
Mode
A variation of a scale that creates a specific mood or character, determined by the pattern of whole and half steps.
Example:
Switching from a major to a minor mode can instantly change a cheerful melody into a somber one.
Natural Minor
The basic form of the minor scale, derived directly from its relative major by starting on the sixth scale degree of the major scale.
Example:
Playing an A to A scale using only white keys on the piano demonstrates the Natural Minor scale.
Parallel Keys
Keys that share the same tonic (root note) but differ in mode, meaning one is major and the other is minor.
Example:
C major and C minor are Parallel Keys, both starting on C but having different emotional qualities.
Relative Keys
Keys that share the same key signature but have different tonics, with the major key's tonic being a minor third above its relative minor's tonic.
Example:
A major and F# minor are Relative Keys, both sharing a key signature of three sharps.
Relative Pitch
The ability to identify musical notes, intervals, and changes in tonality in relation to a given reference pitch, rather than identifying specific note names without context.
Example:
An AP Music Theory student uses their Relative Pitch to identify that a melody has moved up a perfect fifth from the starting note.
Tonality
Refers to the key of a piece of music, establishing a central pitch or chord around which the music revolves.
Example:
A piece in C major has a strong sense of tonality centered around the note C.
Tonic
The first and most important scale degree of a key, serving as the central pitch or home base for the melody and harmony.
Example:
In the key of G major, G is the Tonic, providing a strong sense of resolution when the music returns to it.