Preparatory Module

Music Notation Fundamentals

This module assumes you already know basic music notation, but we'll do a quick review to make sure we're all starting from the same point.

---

The Staff and Clefs

The staff is the system of 5 lines and 4 spaces on which we write music. The position of each note on the staff determines its pitch (how low or high it is).

Clefs define the reference point:

• Treble Clef: The second line is G4. Used by soprano, alto, violin, guitar, right hand of piano.
• Bass Clef: The fourth line is F3. Used by bass, tenor (sometimes), left hand of piano, cello.

In this course we will primarily work with two staves (grand staff), writing soprano and alto in treble clef, and tenor and bass in bass clef.

---

Note Values and Durations

| Symbol | Name | Value | |--------|------|-------| | 𝅝 | Whole note | 4 beats | | 𝅗𝅥 | Half note | 2 beats | | ♩ | Quarter note | 1 beat | | ♪ | Eighth note | ½ beat | | ♬ | Sixteenth note | ¼ beat |

---

Major Scales

A major scale is a succession of 8 notes (one octave) following the pattern of tones and semitones:

W – W – H – W – W – W – H

Where W = whole step (2 semitones) and H = half step (1 semitone).

The C Major scale is the easiest to visualize because it uses only the white keys of the piano:

C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

---

Minor Scales

The natural minor scale follows the pattern:

W – H – W – W – H – W – W

There are three forms of the minor scale we'll use in the course:

1. Natural — no additional accidentals
2. Harmonic — seventh degree raised a half step (creates the leading tone)
3. Melodic — sixth and seventh degrees raised going up, natural going down

For this course, the harmonic minor scale is most important because it produces the leading tone we'll use in cadences.

---

Intervals

An interval is the distance between two notes. Intervals are named by the number of diatonic degrees that separate them:

| Interval | Semitones (major/perfect) | Example (from C) | |----------|---------------------------|-------------------| | Major second | 2 | C – D | | Major third | 4 | C – E | | Perfect fourth | 5 | C – F | | Perfect fifth | 7 | C – G | | Major sixth | 9 | C – A | | Major seventh | 11 | C – B | | Perfect octave | 12 | C – C |

---

Triads

A triad is a 3-note chord formed by a root, a third, and a fifth.

• Major triad: major third + minor third (C – E – G)
• Minor triad: minor third + major third (C – Eb – G)
• Diminished triad: minor third + minor third (B – D – F)
• Augmented triad: major third + major third (C – E – G#)

---

Scale Degrees

In tonal harmony, each scale degree has a function and a Roman numeral:

| Numeral | Degree | Name | Function | |---------|--------|------|----------| | I | Tonic | Tonic | Rest | | II | Supertonic | — | Pre-dominant | | III | Mediant | — | — | | IV | Subdominant | Subdominant | Pre-dominant | | V | Dominant | Dominant | Tension | | VI | Submediant | — | — | | VII | Leading tone | — | Tension → Tonic |

---

Ready to begin?

If all of the above is familiar to you, you're ready for Lesson 1. If you need to review any concept, there are excellent resources on YouTube — search for "music theory fundamentals."

In the next lesson we begin with four-voice chorale writing. 🎼