Music Theory

  Lesson 17 March 22nd, 2021 Lesson 17 Lecture notes: The dominant seventh chord contains two tendency notes , including the leading tone and the chordal seventh . In a dominant seventh chord , the third degree of that chord is the leading tone for the tonic chord, which would resolve up to the tonic note ( 7 - 1 ). In a dominant seventh chord , the seventh degree , also known as the chordal seventh , is the tonic chord's fourth degree. This note would resolve down to the third degree of the tonic chord ( 4 - 3 ). The two predominant chords that lead to the dominant chord are the minor second and the perfect fourth . The basic phrase model would look like ( T - PD - D - T ) whenever used. Parallel fifths are easy to occur. An excellent way to avoid this is by omitting a note in either the dominant seventh chord or the tonic chord. The note that can be left out of either chord is the fifth-degree note .  Root position ( 7 ) and second inversion ( 4/3 ) dominant seve

  Lesson 16 March 19th, 2021 Lesson 16 Lecture notes: SATB stands for soprano , alto , tenor , and bass . These four parts are the basic structure for four-part harmony . The perfect authentic cadence is primarily used at the end of a piece of music which consists of the fifth and tonic being in root position with the tonic being in both the bass and soprano lines . This cadence has the soprano line moving from 7 to 1 or 2 to 1 . Music consists of phrases , much like sentences in a paragraph with commas and full stops . However , these pauses are indicated with cadences in music after either a four-bar or eight-bar phrase . Never double a note with an accidental or notes with tendency tones when writing in SATB style. The basic conclusive phrase consists of three parts which include the opening tonic area (T) , dominant area (D) , and tonic closure (T) . This is the harmonic structure of the basic phrase. An imperfect authentic cadence is when the soprano li

  Lesson 15 March 9th, 2021 Lesson 15 Lecture notes: The  soprano voice functions as the traditional melody in a tonal counterpoint, while the bass provides a tonal function . The principles of strict counterpoint are still recognized after the eighteenth century .  A combination of melodic , harmonic , and rhythmic elements that create a sense of closure is called a cadence . A cadence is a progression of two chords that ends a phrase , section , or piece of music . Chordal dissonance refers to dissonant intervals found in the dominant seventh chord . Melodic embellishments include passing tones , neighbor notes , and a  consonant or chordal skips . The above image shows a two-part chorale harmony in the key of G minor. The above image shows two different types of cadences. The first one resolves down from the supertonic to the tonic in the soprano line and resolves up from the seventh (leading tone) to the tonic in the soprano line. The above video explains the differen