P1, d2 = 0 halfsteps

m2, A1 = 1 halfstep
M2, d3 = 2 halfsteps
m3, A2 = 3 halfsteps
M3, d4 = 4 halfsteps
P4, A3 = 5 halfsteps
A4, d5 = 6 halfsteps
P5, d6 = 7 half-

Minor interval = major step

Augmented interval = major + step
Diminished interval = minor or perfect step
How to write scales
Major Scale - WWHWWWH
Natural minor WHWWHWW
Harmonic minor raise 7th note of NM by a half step
Melodic Minor raise both 6th and 7th note of NM by half step
Invert chord by moving lowest note up an octave
1st inversion third is the lowest note
2nd inversion fifth is the lowest note
Do this moving the lowest note up an octave
Scale degrees

1-tonic
2-supertonic
3-mediant
4-subdominant
5-dominant
Major chord/triad = root, major third, perfect fifth
Minor chord/triad = root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th
Augmented triad root, major 3rd, augmented 5th
Diminished triad root, minor 3rd, Diminished 5th.

Diatonic chords/triads are made up of the notes in a scale

Every major/minor scale has 7
1- Construct scale
2- Stack 2 generic thirds on top of each note
When writing diatonic use the key signature rather than placing accidentals
by each note
The sequence of diatonic chords in a major scale is MmmMMmD
For example CEG DFA EGB FAC GBD ACE BDF
When writing diatonic chords/triads remember the rules for writing natural,
harmonic, and melodic minor
The Interval when Inverted becomes
UnisonsOctaves
2nds 7ths
3rds 6ths
4ths 5ths
5ths 4ths
6ths 3rds
7ths 2nds
OctavesUnisons
Perfect
Perfect
Major Minor
Minor Major
DiminishedAugmented
AugmentedDiminished
(lowercase for minor)
1I
2 II
3 III
4 IV
5V
6 VI
7 - VII

8 Identifying Intervals
9 The easiest way to find an interval's name is to first, count all
the pitch names present, including the notes themselves
(ignore sharps and flats at this point). Then, find out (had it
been missing a flat or sharp) what type of interval it would be,
depending on whether it is perfect (a 1,4,5,8) or major
(2,6,7). If there are no sharps or flats, you are done. If there
are, figure out if the flat or sharp decreases or increases the
distance between the two pitches. If it increases the distance,

the interval is augmented. If it decreases the distance, and the

interval would otherwise be perfect, it is diminished. If it
decreases the distance and the interval would otherwise be
major, it is minor.
10 Sharps and flats are not used when figuring out the number of an
interval, only the distance between the letters. So
11
There are 5 possible modifiers of an interval: perfect, major, minor,
diminished and augmented.
12
In a major scale, the order of diatonic seventh chords is:
1. Major 7th
2. Minor 7th
3. Minor 7th
4. Major 7th
5. Dominant 7th
6. Minor 7th
7. Half-Diminished 7th (Minor 7th Flat 5)
time =
(3) is the quantity of quarter [4] notes that fit in
6/8 time =
(6) is the quantity of eighth [8] notes that fit in
3/2 time =
[3] is the quantity of half [2] notes that fit in.
no flag quarter note (think of a whole note)
one flag eighth note (think 1/8 of a whole note 2 of these = quarter note)
two flags 16th note (think 1/16th of a whole note. )

simple & compound meters

terms
duple 2 main beats per measure
triple 3 main beats per measure
quadruple 4 main beats per measure
simple meter means each beat can be divided into two notes
Simple duple 2 is on top (2/4, 2/2/, 2/8)
Simple triple 3 is on top (3/2, 3/8, 3/4)
Simple quadruple 4 is on top (4/4, 4/2, 4/8)
all of these can have 4,2,or 8 as the bottom.
Simple meter always has 2,4, or 8
Types of compound (divided into 3)
6/8 is compound duple (dotted quarter note is each beat)
all compound meters will have some dotted note on its bead.
Any time signature with 6 on top is compound duple
9/8 is compound triple
Three main beats (3 dotted quarter notes) makes it triple
Each beat made up of 3 notes so meter is compound
Any time signature with 9 on top is compound triple
12/8 is compound quadruple
4 main beats (dotted quarter note) makes it quadruple
each beat made up of 3 notes so meter is compound
Odd meter contains both simple & compound beats
5/8 has one simple beat (split into 2 two eighth notes) and one compound
beat (three eighth notes)
7/8 time two simple beats (2 sets of 2 eighth notes) and one compound (3
eight notes)
8/8 2 compound (3 eighth notes) and one simple (2 eighth notes)
10/8 2 compound, 2 simple
11/8 3 compound, 1 simple