Learning some very basics of music theory
Recently I have started learning some very basic music theory while also learning to play a digital keyboard. I add some more details of motivation at the bottom. Below is what I have learned so far.
- A note defines the unit of a sound in music, and can be a letter ranging from A to G
- A measure or bar is like a bounded space for a bunch of notes
- A time signature determines the number of notes of specific types can be in a measure or a bar
- A whole/half/quarter note takes up one measure in a typical 4/4 time signature (4 beats)
- An octave defines the interval between two notes where one having twice the frequency of vibration of the other
- A scale is just the sequence of notes that are between one note and its octave
- A major scale is a type of scale defined by the intervals between notes
- 2 notes can be either whole or half step away from each other
- major scale has an interval pattern of
Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Whole - Half - major scales tend to sound bright, happy and hopeful
- A C major scale starts at a C note, goes to D, E, F, G, A, B and ends at C in the next octave
- A minor scale follows the pattern of
Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - A chord is a combination of three or more musical tones sounded simultaneously to create a harmonic effect
- Chord examples: C major chord, A minor chord