By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Transpose chord progressions and melodies into other keys, given the interval of transposition or the key of transposition.
Define the terms tonic, dominant, and subdominant harmony.
Aurally identify root-position I, IV, and V chords in a short progression in major or minor.
Roman Numerals and Chord Symbols for 7th Chords on Each Step of the Major and Minor Scale
Chord Transposition: What are some of the reasons that a musician might need to transpose the chords of a song or musical excerpt? Brainstorm different applications of this skill for students interested in performance, composition, songwriting, technology, etc.
Listening for Chord Changes (I & IV): Listen to excerpts from popular music that include only I and IV chords played by your instructor. Conduct while you listen and transcribe the chords you hear in each bar. As an example, for a 4-bar phrase, you might transcribe: | I | I | IV | I | .
Instructors: Find the playlist with solutions in the instructor anthology here.
Discuss different strategies as a class (or in groups) for hearing the chord changes. A few ideas include:
1) Listening to the bassline: If you hear Do, it's a I chord; if you hear Fa, it's a IV chord.
2) Try the "Mi-Fa Test." Sing Mi and hold it while you listen. If Mi seems to fit the harmony, it's a I chord. If you feel like you need to slide up to Fa to get the note you're singing to fit the chord, it's a IV chord.
Listening for Chord Changes (I, IV, and V): Now, try adding V chords back into the mix. What are the basslines you are listening for now? What kind of scale degrees can you sing to help you work through the progression? Discuss as a class before you begin.
Instructors: Find the playlist with solutions in the instructor anthology here.
Chord Transposition: Select song examples from the Roman numeral page in your anthology here. (See the Roman Numerals from Lead Sheet Notation (Triads) section.) Identify the Roman numerals for each chord, then transpose the chords into the key indicated by your instructor.
Melody + Chord Transposition: Select song examples from the Roman numeral page in your anthology here. (See the Roman Numeral ID (Triads only) section.) Transpose both the lead sheet notation and the melody into the key indicated by your instructor.
Classical Chord Dictation: Listen to examples played by your instructor that incorporate I, IV, and V chords.
Instructors: Find the dictation examples in the anthology here.