Tim Sabin's Music Theory Page



This page last updated 09/27/2000

Disclaimer

This page is only about Western Music Theory. Please don't contact me telling me that there are other types of music theory. No duh! Also, if you find something 'wrong' on this page, you may e-mail me politely telling me; however, don't expect too much! This page is about my version of Western Music Theory, not some Conservatory's idea.

Page Sections

This page is divided into numerous sections, so that you may skip over topics you don't need to read about.

Octave and Elementary Scale

 The most 'elementary' concept in Music Theory is an octave. An octave is the distance between two notes that sound almost identical. It's name is derived from the Italian prefix for eight - 'oct', and refers to the eight notes that make up such an interval (you remember Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do, don't you?). From this interval we can derive the most elementary of scales - the 12-tone scale. In Western music, these notes have been assigned to the alphabet: 
   A; A# or Bb; B; C; C# or Db; D; D# or Eb; E; F; F# or Gb; G; G# or Ab; A
The distance between each note is called a 'semitone'. The symbols '#' and 'b' mean 'sharp' and 'flat' respectively. A sharp raises a note one semitone; a flat lowers a note one semitone.
There are also double sharps (##) and double flats (bb) that raise or lower a note by two semitones.

Modes of Music

A mode of music is a way of using the twelve-tone scale so that it yields eight notes - an octave - that is more common, and also is useful in expressing emotions or moods. The two common modes and their scales (starting at C): 
   Major     C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C
   Minor     C  D  Eb F  G  Ab Bb C
Note that the main difference is that the Minor scale has three notes of the Major scale flatted (b). But, as I said, these are the two common scales. A more complete listing: 
   1 sharp              C  D  E  F# G  A  B  C
   0 sharp - Major      C  D  E  F  G  A  B  C
   1 flat - Dominant    C  D  E  F  G  A  Bb C
   2 flats              C  D  Eb F  G  A  Bb C
   3 flats - Minor      C  D  Eb F  G  Ab Bb C
   4 flats              C  Db Eb F  G  Ab Bb C
   5 flats - SuperMinor C  Db Eb F  Gb Ab Bb C
Please note that the names 'Dominant' and 'SuperMinor' are mine.

Chords

A chord is a group of notes that are sounded simultaneously. These notes are grouped according to the mode that defines them For example: in the C Major scale, the notes C-E-G define the C Major chord. Similarly, in the C Minor scale, the notes C-Eb-G define the C Minor chord.


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