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Music Theory Fundamentals

A collection of music theory concepts and their applications.

Music Fundamentals

Scale The 7 notes that are the building blocks of a song Interval The spacing between notes

Functional Harmony

Harmony The study of how chords work Key Establishing the set of notes and chords used in a song Relative Notation A powerful framework for understanding how songs work Scale Degree Numbering notes within a key Roman Numeral Notation Numbering chords within a key

Basic Chord Concepts

Basic Chord Chords naturally found in the key Chord Quality Different chord sounds and their function Chord Voicing Different ways of playing or arranging the same chord Cadence Ending a musical idea

Melody

Meter A song's rhythmic framework Stable/Unstable Scale Degree Understanding melody tension over chords

Advanced Chords

Inverted Chord (Inversions) Using a different bass note to change a chord's sound Seventh Chord Adding one more note to the basic chords Secondary/Applied Chord (Secondary Dominant) Chords that temporarily shift the harmonic center Suspended Chord A chord with built in tension and release Add Chord A chord with an added tone that enriches its sound Borrowed Chord Using chords from parallel modes for contrast and emotion Tritone Substitution Jazz harmonic technique replacing dominant chords with chords a tritone away Altered Chord Altered (raised or lowered) notes create tension and complexity in chords

Advanced Concepts in Harmony

Transposition Two ways to change a song's key Modal Mixture Borrowing chords from another key Mode New scales and home base chords for a different mood (Non) Diatonic Using notes within and outside a song's key Stepwise Bassline Progressions that connect the bass