Suspensions
Suspensions are prepared, dissonant non-chord notes which resolve downwards by step. They fall on a strong beat, but are not normally accented in themselves, because they are usually tied backwards …
Using Decoration Notes
Auxiliary Notes Auxiliary notes are non-chord notes which are approached and quit in the opposite direction by step. They are usually unaccented. They can either be upper or lower auxiliary …
The Neapolitan 6th
One of the most commonly-used chromatic chords in the Classical period (and beyond) is the Neapolitan 6th chord, or “N6”. This is a major chord, built from the flattened supertonic …
Secondary 7ths
The chords ii7 and vii°7 are in a group of chords called secondary 7ths. A secondary 7th is an added 7th chord built on any degree of the scale except …
Chord vii°7 (Diminished 7th)
Chord vii°7 Chord vii°7 is a diminished 7th chord. It is built from the diminished triad on the 7th degree of the scale, plus another third added on top: the …
Direct Modulation
Modulation is the process of changing key. Although most modulations use the progression V-I or V7-I, sometimes music can pass into a new key without any preparation from the new …
The Whole Tone Scale
The Whole Tone Scale The whole-tone scale is a six-note scale, where each note is a tone (whole step) higher/lower than the next. There are two varieties: Since the interval …
Identifying the Era
Identifying the Era of a Score In your music theory exam you may be asked to identify the era or possible composer of a score you have not seen before. …
The Romantic Era
The Romantic era in music was (roughly) between the years 1830 to 1900. Some of the most famous composers of this era are: Robert Schumann, Edward Elgar, Frédéric Chopin, Felix …
The Classical Era
The Classical era in music was (roughly) between the years 1750 to 1830. Some of the most famous composers of this era are: W.A. Mozart, Franz Schubert, Joseph Haydn, Muzio …