Music Theory

A musical scale is a set of notes in ascending or descending order. The 12 chromatic notes are: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B. A major scale uses the pattern: whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half steps (W-W-H-W-W-W-H). The C Major scale is: C D E F G A B C — it uses only white keys on a piano.

An interval is the distance between two notes. Intervals are named by the number of steps between them:

A chord is three or more notes played together. The most common chords:

Rhythm is the pattern of beats and silences in music. Key concepts:

A key signature tells you which notes are sharp or flat throughout a piece. The key of C Major has no sharps or flats. As you move around the circle of fifths:

Modes are variations of the major scale starting on different degrees: