Music Theory

Project 4 Task 3 – Assignment Brief

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Project 4, Task 3 Music Theory

Complete a range of Music Theory Exercises. These should include knowledge and practical demonstration of the following: -

1. Notate Major and Minor Scales, and their Key Signatures in any key using Treble and Bass. clef.

2. Notate Rhythms for specified Time Signatures.

3. Work out the Chords in any Major or Minor key and harmonise a melody with them.

4. Identify by Ear:

Intervals

Rhythms

Chord Progressions from the ‘Common Chord Progressions’ sheet.

Create a video demonstrating your keyboard skills:

Perform major scales in at least 3 keys.

Perform natural minor scales in at least 2 keys

Perform harmonic minor scales in at least 2 keys.

Perform at least 4 chord progressions from the ‘Common Chord Progressions’ sheet.

Deadline: Fri 28th Feb 2025 (Week 21)

Evidence required: Project 4, subpage "Music Theory Projects" 1, 2 & 3 – in class assessment, 4 – link to video, 5 – in class assessment. Unit 7 LO 1.2

Please refer to the UAL Specification for Assessment Criteria.

Link to Teoria Theory Exercises

Notes, Intervals & Scales

Pitch and Intervals

Major and Minor Scales

Modes

Keys and Key Signatures

Melody Writing

Harmony

Functional Harmony

Circle of 5ths

Modal Interchange

Dominant 7ths & Extended Chords

Secondary Dominants

Rhythm & Tempo

Note Values

Time Signatures

Rhythms and Beats

Tempo

Performance Directions

Dynamics

Articulations

Terms

Link to Keyboard Skills

Primary Chords (I, IV, V) 1950s

Sessions 1 & 2

1950s Theory in Practice Worksheet.pdf

Downloadable Student worksheet

UAL FD 1950s Theory 1 & 2.pptx

1950s Theory - Further Reading

The Circle of 5ths 1960s

Sessions 3 & 4

Downloadable Student worksheet

Copy of 1960s - 3 Beatles Chord Progression Tricks (2).docx

UAL FD 1960s Theory 3 & 4.pptx

More about the circle of 5ths..

Circle of 5ths Template.pdf

Downloadable Student Worksheet

Circle Of Fifths Powerpoint.pptx

Major Scales and Key Signatures

The best way to remember key signatures is to learn them off by heart!

Things you need to know...

how key signatures are worked out - this is a result of the fixed pattern of tones and semitones in major scales (see below)
how to remember the order of sharps or flats in key signatures
understand that every major scale has a relative minor and that they share the same key signature
be able to recognise and name keys of up to four sharps and flats (in both major and minor keys

Sessions 5 + 6 Student Worksheet

Scales, Tones, Semitones and KS.pdf

AMS Understanding Keys and Key Signatures (2).pptx

Guitar Major Scales

It’s a good idea to learn your scales both vertically down the fretboard changing strings, but also horizontally along a a string. This will help you memorise the pattern.
With the Major scale if we know that a Tone = 2 Frets and a Semitone = 1 Fret the TTSTTTS pattern becomes 2,2,1,2,2,2,1, fret jumps up the string. Try C major scale going up the string and think about the TTSTTTS pattern.

Once you have nailed the pattern on a string you need to learn you major scales down the fretboard. They come in different positions which allows you to travel around the fretboard playing in key anywhere you like! This is position 1. Make sure you know it inside out!

The red circles are the Tonic notes of the major scale, so if you put the red note on the 8th fret on your E string you will be playing the C major scale. (The numbers are your fingers for fingering the scale 1 = index, 2 = middle etc). This came from www.justinguitar.com which is a great website for guitarists to learn more.

Introducing the Harmonic Minor

Student Worksheet

Harmonic Minors.pdf

What's the difference between the 3 kinds of minor scales? #Shorts

Harmonic Minor Chords

Listen to Hit me baby one more time, recorded by Britney Spears.

Hit me baby is a great example of minor harmony. It uses the Natural minor b7 for the riff, but most of the harmony (chords) use Harmonic Minor tonality.

Harmonic minor often gives you a classical sound and is used by Muse all the time, yes literally all the time!

Notice how all the chords below come from the Harmonic minor chords above. (Note how the B in the Eb chord has been changed to a Bb, this is a common change on chord III as it just sounds better for most chord progressions).