Year 9 Foundation Music Theory
Key Signatures
As a composer, you need understand keys (so that you can choose a key for your composition) and degrees of the scale (so that you can choose suitable pitches for the bass line and chords). Follow this presentation to understand how each key is identified by its key signature.
In this exercise, identify each key signature using the following rules:
For major keys with flats: take the last flat and 'go back a flat'
For major keys with sharps: take the last sharp and 'go up a step'
For minor keys: first work out the major key (e.g. D major) then, from that note, go down 3 semi-tones (e.g. C#, C, B), giving you the minor key (e.g. B minor)
Indentifying Key Signatures Exercise
1Identifying Key Signatures.pdfThis reference guide identifies each key signature and, within each key, each chord and its degree of the scale. Use this guide to help you to identify keys and chords.
Key Signatures and Chords Reference Guide
2Key Signatures and Chords Reference Guide.pdfChords and Degrees of the Scale
So far, you have identified chords using their letter names (e.g. C major, CEG). However, we learn more about the function of a chord if we identify it by its position within the prevailing key (e.g. in the key of C major, C = I, D = II, E = III etc.) We use roman numerals to identify each degree of the scale, and therefore each chord. In this exercise, practise identifying chords using the degrees of the scale.
Indentifying Chords using Degrees of the Scale Exercise 1
Identifying Chords and Degrees of the Scale 1.pdfIn this exercise, practise identifying chords using the degrees of the scale. To identify each chord, you will need to work out which notes belong to the chord and which notes are non-chord notes (and should be ignored).
Identifying Chords using Degrees of the Scale Exercise 2
Identifying Chords and Degrees of the Scale 2.pdfNotating Chords in Different Keys
Use your knowledge of key signatures and chords to notate the following four-chord progressions for piano. Place one note on the bass stave. Place three or four notes on the treble stave.
Notate the following four chord progressions:
Question 1 in C major: I, V, VI, IV
Question 2 in F major: I, VI, IV, V
Question 3 in D major: I, III, VI, V
Question 4 in A minor: I, IV, VI, V
Question 5 in E minor: IV, I, VI, V
Revision and Assessment
Prepare for the end of topic assessment by reading, understanding and learning the contents of this revision resource.
Pitches, Chords, Key Signatures, Degrees of the Scale Revision
Pitches, Chords, Key Signatures, Degrees of the Scale Revision.pdfPitches, Chords, Key Signatures, Degrees of the Scale Assessment (Staff Access Only)
1Pitches, Chords, Key Signatures, Degrees of the Scale Assessment.pdfChords, Degrees of the Scale Extension Assessment (Staff Access Only)
2Chords, Degrees of the Scale Extension Assessment.pdf