#AP Music Theory: Ultimate Study Guide 🎶

Hey there, future music maestro! Let's get you prepped and feeling awesome for your AP Music Theory exam. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially when time is tight. Let's dive in!

#3.1 Triad and Chord Qualities (M, m, d, A)

#What's a Triad? 🤔

A triad is a chord made of three notes stacked in thirds. Think of it as a musical sandwich with two slices of thirds!
There are four main types:
- Major (M): Root, major third, perfect fifth ☀️
- Minor (m): Root, minor third, perfect fifth 🌧️
- Diminished (d): Root, minor third, diminished fifth 😟
- Augmented (A): Root, major third, augmented fifth 😮

Key Concept

Key Point: The quality of a triad (major, minor, diminished, augmented) is determined by the specific intervals (major third, minor third, perfect fifth, diminished fifth, augmented fifth) from the root.

#Visualizing Triads

Triad Types

From right to left: C Major, C minor, C diminished, C augmented

#Triad Inversions

Root Position: Root is in the bass (lowest note).
First Inversion: Third of the chord is in the bass.
Second Inversion: Fifth of the chord is in the bass.

Memory Aid

Memory Aid: Think of inversions as a musical seesaw. The note in the bass changes the balance and feel of the chord.

#3.2 Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals

#Diatonic Chords: Building Blocks of Harmony

Diatonic chords use only notes from a specific scale. In C major, that's C, D, E, F, G, A, and B.
These chords create the foundation of a key's characteristic sound.

#Major Key Diatonic Triads

Major Key Diatonic Triads

**Rom...

Music Fundamentals III (Triads and Seventh Chords)

Hannah Hill