Recap of basic music theory

1
This lecture recaps the basic music theory knowledge you will need in
order to progress in this unit. It will look at interval inversions, the cycle
of fifths the order of the keys, the relationship that those keys have
with one another and key signatures.

161

Major and minor pentatonic and blues scales

Major and minor pentatonic scales, despite their prevalence in blues

and rock music, have been in use for many centuries, and are found in
countries as far apart as Ireland and China in their folk music. This
lecture will also look at the 12-bar blues. 173

Minor scales

This lecture explains the construction of the minor scale and its
importance in western music. It also explains the intervals of the major
scale and inversions of those intervals.
179

Triads and harmonizing the major scale

This lecture covers the method of harmonizing in thirds, the

construction of triads, the diatonic chords of the major scale, and
major, minor, diminished and augmented chords.
5

Triad inversions and chord voicings

187

This lecture continues work on diatonic harmony, focusing on the

inversions of triads and describes various chord voicings.

193

Other chord types and compound intervals

Before looking at seventh chords and all the various extended chords,
you will explore other chords such as add chords, suspended (sus)
chords, sixth chords etc. Learning about compound intervals. The
lecture also discusses the correct naming procedure for these intervals.
Chord families and diatonic chord substitution
This lecture applies some of the knowledge learnt throughout the term
and teaches the student how to make musically intelligent choices for
simple diatonic chord substitution. 205
8

Seventh chords

The chord type basic to western harmony, and the starting point of a
number of extended chords that will be studied. Learning how to
building them using the chord formulae and key signatures and
exploring the harmony of these chords.

211

Transposition and modulation

In transposition we take the melody and harmony of a piece of music

and transfer it completely to a new key. This is useful when a new key
is required for a vocalist or instrumentalist or when a particular key is
not suitable for a certain instrument. Modulation is moving from one
key centre to another within the same piece of music.

219

10

Modes of the major scale

This lecture will focus on the seven modes of the major scale and their
formulae. You will also study the parent scale method.

11

225

Extended chords

In this lecture we will study ninth chords, eleventh chords and

thirteenth chords.235

12

Secondary dominants

The tutor will explain the construction, derivation and the use of
secondary dominant chords. The tutor will provide examples of chord
progressions that use secondary dominant chords.

13

249

Semester review

This lecture will be used to review all of the theoretical material studied
so far this term. This will take the form of an exam where any problem
areas will be discussed. 255

14

Exam/Assessment week

256

15

Exam/Assessment week

256