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.

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.