The elements of music are rhythm, melody, timbre, and harmony. Music without rhythm can hardly be imagined. Most of the music heard today (this includes nearly all commercial music) is based on similar harmonic principles. For this reason, the study of harmony is essential to those who wish to be knowledgeable listeners or competent performers.
Harmony has two dimensions. One is “vertical” – several tones sounding simultaneously (chords); the other is “horizontal” – successions of chords within a tonal system. Thus the study of harmony involves two things.: types of chords; and how chords relate to one another.
Music is based on major and minor scales.
Music in which one tone predominates over the other tones on the scale is called tonal music.
C Major Scale It is common to speak of music in a particular key.
Intervals, chords, and triads.
Chords – several tones sounding simultaneously. At least three tones are required to produce a complete chord.
Two tones sounding together produce an interval. Three tones or more sounding together produce a chord. A chord of three tones is also called a triad.
THE PIANO
SCALES – MAJOR SCALE
Musical scales are created by using a combination of whole steps and half steps.
A whole step is two (2) notes higher or lower from a starting note. (Note: a whole step is also two half steps).
A half step is one (1) note higher or lower from a starting note.
Let’s look at the piano keyboard.
If we start on the note C then a whole step from C would be the note D.
A whole step from the note D would be E.
If we start on the note C then a half step from C would be the note C#.
A whole step from the note C# would be D.
Let’s look at this a little more.
If we start on the note E then a half step from E would be the note F.
SHARPS AND FLATS
Sharps and flats are used to raise or lower notes that are not found in the key signature. There will be more on this later.