Woburn Music - Theory Resources

WOBURN MUSIC - THEORY RESOURCES

GRADE 9

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MAJOR KEY SIGNATURES
To indicate the key we are in at the beginning of a piece of music, or wherever the key changes, we use key signatures. This is a set of symbols that tell us which notes should be played sharp or flat throughout the piece.

The appropriate sharp and flat signs are placed in these precise locations on the staff:

Sharps are organized in this order F C G D A E B (i.e., Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle).
Flats are organized in the reverse order B E A D G C F (i.e. Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father).

To find the major key of a given sharp key signature, go one letter-name up from the letter-name of the last sharp (check your Father Charles if necessary). I.e., in the example, the last sharp is B, therefore the key is C# major.

To find the major key of a given flat key signature, take the letter-name of the second-last flat (The key of the KS with one flat is F+.) In the example, the second-last flat is C, therefore the key is Cb major.

You can also use these memory aids to figure out which sharps or flats are in a given key. For instance, if you wanted to find the key signature of A major, you can say: "I have A major. A has to be one letter-name above the letter-name of the last sharp, which means the last sharp has to be G. Let's see... F, C, G! Three sharps. Now I'll have to write them down in the correct pattern."

A handy guide to major key signatures:

No sharps or flats:
C major

G major: 1 sharp D major: 2 sharps A major: 3 sharps E major: 4 sharps B major: 5 sharps F# major: 6 sharps C# major: 7 sharps

F major: 1 flat Bb major: 2 flats Eb major: 3 flats Ab major: 4 flats Db major: 5 flats Gb major: 6 flats Cb major: 7 flats

Download the key signatures worksheet » (Acrobat Reader required)

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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC

Rhythm (note the spelling)

In what patterns do we hear a sound? The notes below are all Cs, but they sound very different.

We can call patterns in the music that involve different time intervals, or different accents, rhythms. Rhythm can also be, more generally, the way that the sounds vary in time. When they are organized with a time signature, rhythms help to establish a meter.

Melody and harmony
Here are some notes, all of which are either A, C, and E. What's different?

The example on the right shows us a melody: one series of notes in a sequence. Melody is often the part you can 'hum'.

The example at left, however, shows us A, C, and E arranges in chords (or notes played at the same time) illustrating harmony. You can think of harmony as vertical and melody as horizontal sequences.

Timbre

Here is a saxophone. You are probably able to recognize the particular sound it produces and know that it sounds different from a piano playing exactly the same melody: this property is called timbre. The characteristics of the saxophone determine its timbre, also known as tone quality. For one, noise is produced on the saxophone by blowing air through a mouthpiece with a vibrating reed. The piano produces noise by the hitting of hammers on strings.

Dynamics

This term refers to how loudly or softly a tone is produced. The first bar of the example is marked mezzo-piano or moderately soft; the second has a crescendo ending in fortissimo indicating very loud. Both the volume level and the markings are often referred to generally as dynamics.

Textures:

MONOPHONY
A single melodic line without accompaniment (i.e., one part: think of nursery rhymes or 'Gregorian' chant.

POLYPHONY
At least two independent voices, usually with different melodies.

HOMOPHONY
One melodic line accompanied by a backing accompaniment. Frequently, the accompaniment shares the melody's rhythm. Pop songs and hymns are often homophonic.

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