Chromatic Scale
Scale with all the notes (i.e. 12 notes) in the equal temperament system. Which are
C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C -> Ascending
C B Bb A Ab G Gb F E Eb D Db C -> Descending
An Octave is completed from C to C.
All white keys of piano are called Natural notes. Black keys which may be called #(sharp) or
b(flat) are called enharmonic notes.
Basic intervals
The shortest interval between two notes is a semi-tone or also called or half step or half
tone or minor second. For example, C to C#/Db, Db/C#, E to F, B to C and so on is a
semitone/half step/half tone/minor second apart ascending. The same goes for descending. For
example, from C to B, B to Bb/A#, F to E, G to Gb/F#, and so on.
A whole tone and also called whole step or major second is 2 semitones apart whether
ascending or descending. For example, C to D, D to E, B to Ab/G#, F to Eb/D#, and so on.
C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C
ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà ßH.Sà
ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à
ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à ß-------W.S------à
H.S à Half Step/Semi-tone/minor second
W.S à Whole Step/Major second
Accidentals
-First one is called sharp which raises a semitone. So, the note in the staff A is raised to a sharp.
-Second one is called double sharp which raises 2 semitones. Note a is raised to A## i.e. B
-Third one is called flat which lowers a semitone. Note A is lowered to Ab
-Fourth one is called double flat which lowers 2 semitones. Note A is lowered to Abb i.e. G
-Fifth one is called natural which resets any flats or sharp to it’s natural note. Abb is now just A.
Major scale (Ionian scale)
A scale with the intervals W.S, W.S, H.S, W.S, W.S, W.S, H.S [(WWH)(WWWH)]. Playing the
same backwards gives the descending major scale.
Example:
C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C
ß-------W.S--------à ß--------W.S-------àßH.Sàß-------W.S-------àß-------W.S-------àß-------W.S-------àß--H.S--à
The notes C D E F G A B C is C major scale that we got from using the formula WWHWWWH
C D E F G A B C
Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do ßSolfege
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa ßSargam
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1/8 ß Intervals(Distance) Scale Degrees
G major (1#) F major (1b)
G A B C D E F# G F G A Bb C D E F
D major (2#) Bb major (2b)
D E F# G A B C# D Bb C D Eb F G A Bb
A major (3#) Eb major (3b)
A B C# D E F# G# A Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb
E major (4#) Ab major (4b)
E F# G# A B C# D# E Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab
B major (5#) Db major (5b)
B C# D# E F# G# A# B Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db
F# major (6#) Gb major (6b)
F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb
C# major (7#) Cb major (7b)
C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C# Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb
Number of sharps/flats -> Key signatures
Key
Signature
Major Scales
C D E F G A B C 0b,#
F G A Bb C D E F 1b
G A B C D E F# G 1#
Bb C D Eb F G A Bb 2b
D E F# G A B C# D 2#
Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb 3b
A B C# D E F# G# A 3#
Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab 4b
E F# G# A B C# D# E 4#
Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db 5b
B C# D# E F# G# A# B 5#
Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb 6b
F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# 6#
Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb 7b
C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C 7#
Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do
सा/Sa #/Re ग/Ga म/Ma प/Pa ध/Dha नी/Ni सा/Sa ßSolfege/Sargam
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale Degrees
Circle of Fourths and Fifths
The circle of fourths and fifths is a circle based on the interval of perfect fourth and
perfect fifth. First, here’s a detailed step of drawing the circle:
1) Think of a clock,
2) Remember the anagram ‘Fat cook goes down and eats bread’ for [F C G D A E B] for
intervals of perfect fifths i.e 5 th of F is C, 5th of C is G, 5th of G is D ans so on. And the
same set of notes [F C G D A E B]. Then follow the diagram below:
Minor Scale (Aeolian scale)[Relative/Parallel]
C major à Relative minor scale à Am [Start the scale from the 6th degree of C i.e. A]
E major à Relative minor scale à C#m [Start the scale from the 6th degree of E i.e C#]
Eb major à Relative minor scale à Cm [Start the scale from the 6th degree of Eb i.e C]
Parallel minor
C major à Parallel minor scale à Cm [1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7]
Gmajor à Parallel minor scale à Gm [1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, b7]
C D E F G A B C ß Major scale
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 ß Scale degrees
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7 1 ß Parallel minor scale formula
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C ß Parallel minor scale
G A B C D E F# G ß Major scale
E F# G A B C D E ß Relative minor Scale
G A Bb C D Eb F G ß Parallel minor
Harmonic minor scale [1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1]
C D E F G A B C ß Major scale
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 ß Scale degrees
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1 ß Harmonic minor scale formula
C D Eb F G Ab B C ß Harmonic scale
G A B C D E F# G ß Major scale
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 ß Scale degrees
1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7 1 ß Harmonic minor scale formula
G A Bb C D Eb F# G ß Harmonic minor scale
Melodic minor scale[1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 1 while ascending and descending natural minor]
C D E F G A B C ß Major scale
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 ß Scale degrees
1 2 b3 4 5 6 7 1 ß Melodic minor scale formula
C D Eb F G A B C {Ascending},
C Bb Ab G F Eb D C {Descending} ß Melodic minor scale
While ascending you play the melodic minor scale as 1, 2, b3 ,4, 5, 6,7 and play the natural
minor scal scale while descending i.e. 8, b7, b6, 5, 4, b3, 2, 1.
For example: G melodic minor is,
G A Bb C D E F# Gˆ, Gˆ F Eb D C Bb A G
Basic Rhythm names/Values
Whole note (4 Beats)/Semi-Breve Whole note rest (4 Beats)
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
3 Half note (2 Beats)/Minim Half note rest (2 Beats)
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
5 Quarter note (2 Beat)/ Crotchet Quarter note rest (1 Beat)
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
7 Eight note (1/2 Beat)/ Quaver Eight note rest (1/2 Beat)
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
9 Sixteenth note (1/4 Beat)/ Semi-Quaver Sixteenth note rest (1/4 Beat)/ Semi-Quaver
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Scale Degree Names
Tonic/Root Super-tonic Mediant Sub-Dominant Dominant Sub-Mediant Leading Tonic
tone/Sub
Tonic[For
minor Scales]
C D E F G A B C
1ˆ 2ˆ 3ˆ 4ˆ 5ˆ 6ˆ 7ˆ 1ˆ
Intervals *s.t means Semi tones*
C and C = Unison
C and C# = m2 (1 s.t)
C and D = M2 (2 s.t)
C and D# = m3 (3 s.t)
C and E = M3 (4 s.t)
C and F = P4 (5 s.t)
C and F#/Gb = Tri-tone [three whole tone distances], Augmented 4th (A4) and diminished 5th(d5) (6 s.t)
C and G = P5 (7 s.t)
C and G# = m6 (8 s.t)
C and A = M6 (9 s.t)
C and A# = m7 (10 s.t)
C and B = M7 (11 s.t)
C4 and C5 = Octave (12 s.t)
C-C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F#/Gb G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B
Unison m2 M2 m3 M3 P4 A4/d5 P5 m6 M6 m7 M7
To figure out any interval,
i) Write the major scale down
For example:
G A B C D E F# G
E F# G# A B C# D# E
ii) A mojor scale has all major and perfect intervals i.e
G to A is M2, G to B is M3, G to C is P4, G to D is P5, G to E is M6, G to F# is M7 and G
to G is an Octave.
And similarly,
E to F# is M2, E to G# is M3, E to A is P4, E to B is P5, E to C# is M6, E to D is M7 and
E to E is an Octave.
iii) And for the minor intervals, just fill in between the whole steps of the major scale,
i.e, G G#/Ab A A#/Bb B C C#/Db D D#/Eb E F F# G
E F F# G G# A A#/Bb B C C# D D# E
Where,
G#/Ab, A#/Bb, C#/Db ,D#/Eb, F are m2, m3, A4 or d5 [tri-tone], m6 and m7
respectively to G.
F, G, A#/Bb, C, D are m2, m3, A4 or d5[tri-tone], m6 and m7 respectively to E.
Chords or harmony
Are when 2 or more notes are paleyd together.
CDEFGABC
Triads
Major Triad = 1, 3, 5 (C E G)
Minor triad = 1, b3, 5 (C Eb G)
Diminished triad = 1, b3, b5 (C Eb Gb)
Augmented triad = 1, 3, #5 (C E G#)
Suspended chords
Suspended 2nd = 1, 2, 5 (C D G)
Suspended 4th = 1, 4, 5 (C F G)
6ths
Major 6 = 1, 3, 5, 6 (C E G A)
Minor 6 = 1, b3, 5, 6 (C Eb G A)
7ths
Major 7th = 1, 3, 5, 7 (C E G B)
Minor 7th = 1, b3, 5, b7 (C Eb G Bb)
Dominant 7th = 1,3,5, b7 (C E G Bb)
Minor major 7 = 1, b3, 5, 7 (C Eb G B)
Minor 7th b5 or half diminished (m7b5, ø) = 1, b3, b5, b7 (C Eb Gb Bb)
Full diminished = 1,b3,b5,bb7 (C Eb Gb Bbb/A)
Diatonic Harmony
Diatonic Scale a scle consisting of 5 Whole steps and 2 half steps.
C D E F G A B
E F G A B C D
G A B C D E F
C E G = 1 Major
D F A = 2 minor
E G B = 3 minor
F A C = 4 Major
G B D = 5 Major
A C E = 6 minor
B D F = 7 diminished
C Natural minor
C D Eb F G Ab Bb
Eb F G Ab Bb C D
G Ab Bb C D Eb F
C Eb G = 1st minor
D F Ab = 2nd diminished
Eb G Bb = 3rd Major
F Ab C = 4th minor
G Bb D = 5th minor
Ab C Eb = 6th Major
Bb D F = 7th Major
C Harmonic Minor
C D Eb F G Ab B
Eb F G Ab B C D
G Ab B C D Eb F
C Eb G = 1st minor
D F Ab = 2nd diminished
Eb G B = 3rd Augmented
F Ab C = 4th minor
G B D = 5th Major
Ab C Eb = 6th Major
B D F = 7th diminished
Melodic Minor
C D Eb F G Ab B
Eb F G Ab B C D
G Ab B C D Eb F
C Eb G = 1st minor
D F A = 2nd minor
Eb G B = 3rd Augmented
F A C = 4th Major
G B D = 5th Major
A C Eb = 6th diminished
B D F = 7th diminished
