INTRODUCTIONTO MUSIC THEORYWednesday, September 19, 2012

TODAY: Music Sharing – Justin (XHS) Music Sharing – Kasey (CHS) RQ7 The Chromatic Scale Intervals Composition #2

You’re really just adding on to Composition #1… Homework: L31, L32, & L33

THE CHROMATIC SCALE: The CHROMATIC SCALE is made up entirely of

half steps in consecutive order. On a keyboard, a chromatic scale uses every

key; black and white. When a chromatic scale goes up, it is called

ASCENDING (use sharps). When a chromatic scale goes down, it is

called DESCENDING (use flats). A chromatic scale may begin or end on any

note. In a chromatic scale, there are 12 pitches (vs.

8 in a major scale).

INTERVALS: An INTERVAL in music is the distance in pitch

between two notes. An interval is counted from the lower note to

the higher note, with the lower note counted as 1 (count every line and space going up the staff).

Intervals are names by the number of the upper note (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th) with two exceptions: The interval that is between notes that are

identical is called a UNISON (unis.) (or a prime).

INTERVALS: An interval of an 8th is called an octave (8va). Melodic intervals are sounded separately. Harmonic intervals are sounded together. Even numbered intervals (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8va)

are written from line to space or space to line.

Odd numbered intervals (unis., 3rd, 5th, 7th) are written from line to line or space to space.

Two note combinations are also known as dyads.

We will eventually “qualify” intervals by type, as well as distance (major, minor, diminished, augmented, perfect).