TOPIC: Music Theory Zoom Class #1

Welcome to Music Theory & Appreciation

We had a great first class. Here is a recap of what I covered:

1. The musical alphabet was demonstrated on the piano and then written on the board

2. Intervals were addressed.

3. The Major scaled was highlighted.

4. I explained tuning for for various instruments

5. The Circle of 5th was introduced and discussed in relation to the tuning of the instruments, as well as how it can be used in other ways which will be discussed in the upcoming classes.

Can you answer the following questions:

What is an interval and how is are intervals used in a Major scale?

What is a melody line and how can you create one on your instrument?

How many notes are there in the musical alphabet?

What is the Key of a song and how does it relate to singing or playing your instrument?


FOR NEXT WEEK: Please print and complete your scale templates. The are found on you materials under Theory / Scales / Scale Templates. You also should attempt to complete the tuning diagrams that we did not work on in class.

See you next week.

FM

Hi Dave,
Good class last Monday. It got me back to reviewing my scales, chords, and keys sheets. However, I think the second part of the exercise/homework was to review the notes for each of the other stringed instruments and determine the open tuning for that instrument (ie. the 5 string banjo is tuned to G). I am using the circle of 5ths/cycle of 4ths to figure the relationship of the strings on the banjo to try to figure out why the banjo is tuned to G, but I do not understand the string relationship that makes that determination. If I cannot figure out why a banjo is tuned to G, I'm sure I will not be able to figure out the tuning of the other instruments. I get the relationship of notes to one another by way of the circle (ie.Route I/G, III/B, and V/D) for the banjo, but why does that result in the tuning of G? Help!
Tony

Hi tony

The string relationship offers some clue to why your instrument is tuned the way it is. Banjo is tuned to a chord that consists of a I, iii, V. However, not all instruments are tuned to a chord. The banjo is the exception.

String relationships can be related to the circle of fifths and help you understand chord and scale relationships as you play up the neck.

We will discuss this in future classes.