2.2.2 Minor Key Signatures Circle of Fifths and Fourths.pptx

Minor Key signatures & the Circle of Fifths & Fourths

High School Music Theory

Learners Can:

Lesson Overview

• define the purpose of the circle of fifths and fourths
• aurally identify the chromatic scale
• explore minor key signatures
• recognize the pattern of the circle of fifths and fourths
• distinguish the order of accidentals in a key signature

Vocabulary

chromatic scale, circle of fifths, minor key signature

Compose a four-measure C MAJOR melody using the melodic motion rules you learned in this lesson. Draw your composition in the sketchpad below. Include the following: Clef (Treble or bass), Time Signature (2/4, 3/4, or 4/4), Notes of the C Major scale, One skip and one leap, Stepwise motion, Measures, rhythms, and barlines

Major vs. Minor

• The difference between minor and major scales is the step pattern

• Major scales end up sounding more consonant, or more resolved and pleasant

• Minor scales sound more dissonant, with more tension in the music

• Major mode is usually associated with happier-sounding music and minor modes with sadder-sounding music

Chromatic Scale

• The circle of fifths is based upon the 12 pitches in Western music theory

• These 12 pitches are highlighted in what is called the chromatic scale

• The chromatic scale is a 12-pitch scale collection consisting entirely of half steps

• It accounts for every notated semitone in Western music

Chromatic Scale

• A chromatic scale can begin on any pitch and span its octave

• Notice that there are 13 notes but only 12 total pitches, as the first and last are both C in different octaves.

Chromatic Scale

Which is a chromatic scale?

Circle of Fifths/Fourths

• The circle of fifths and fourths is an organizational tool used to observe relationships between key signatures

• All twelve chromatic pitches are represented on the chart

• When moving clockwise around the circle, the names of the keys ascend by perfect fifth intervals (like from C Major to G Major). This direction is typically used to read sharp keys

• When moving counter-clockwise, the names of keys ascend by perfect fourth intervals (like from C Major to F Major). This direction is typically used to read flat keys.

Circle of Fifths/Fourths

Fifths

• There are five lines and spaces between the first and second note

• The term “perfect fifth” describes both the distance and the quality of the interval

• A perfect fifth has seven half steps between the two pitches of the interval, as shown on the piano keyboard

• The perfect fifth is the interval that the circle of fifths operates with when looking at SHARP(♯) key signatures

Fourths

• There are four lines and spaces between the first and second note

• The term “perfect fourth” describes both the distance and the quality of the interval

• A perfect fourth has five half steps between the two pitches of the interval, as shown on the piano keyboard

• The perfect fifth is the interval that the circle of fifths operates with when looking at FLAT(♭) key signatures.

Perfect Fifths/fourths

• The circle of fifths begins with letter name C for major and letter name A for minor

• However, you can start from any letter name in the sequence and advance in clockwise motion

• Each letter name leads around the circle to the next letter name that is a perfect fifth away on the musical staff, as shown with blue arrows in the image on the right.

Accidentals

• The first keys on the circle are C major and A minor, which are relative to one another since they share a key signature

• These keys are empty since all notes are natural

• As the circle advances clockwise, accidentals appear to define which pitches in those keys should be consistently raised or lowered.

Sharps

• Sharps are added from one key signature to the next in steps of fifths

• The key of G major contains F♯
• The key of D major contains F♯ and C♯. C♯ is a fifth above F♯
• The key of A major contains F♯, C♯, and G♯. G♯ is a fifth above C♯

• The cycle continues as sharps are added.

Enharmonic Keys

• You will notice there is an overlap between sharps and flats on the circle where both are listed. This is because of enharmonic keys

• Just like G♭ and F♯ are enharmonic pitches, their keys of G♭ major and F♯ major are enharmonic as well, meaning that their scale collections would be notated differently but sound exactly the same

• You may notice that though A♭ and G♯ are enharmonic, there is no enharmonic G♯ key signature. This is because there are only seven pitches to notate accidentals for. After seven, the circle stops and switches over to notating the opposite accidental

• A couple of reasons a composer may choose one enharmonic key versus another could be to satisfy the needs and comfort of the ensemble performing (such as band, orchestra, choir) or to relate to a specific parallel or relative key signature.

Flats

• Flats are removed from one key signature to the next in steps of fifths

• The key of D♭ major contains B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, and G♭

• The key of A♭ major contains B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭. G♭ is removed and is a fifth below D♭

• The key of E♭ major contains B♭, E♭, and A♭. D♭ is removed and is a fifth below A♭

• The cycle continues as flats are removed.

Reading the Circle

• Step Two:

• Decide which direction you will need to move.
• Clockwise: adding sharps to the key signature and moving in perfect fifths
• Counter-clockwise: adding flats to the key signature and moving in perfect fourths

• Step One:

• Identify your starting point - a key signature with NO sharps or flats, C Major. You will always read from this key signature and then move either clockwise or counterclockwise.

Starting with C Major (no sharps or flats)

Reading the Circle

• Step Three:

• Use the graphic to identify the key signature by name of key (example G Major) or number of sharps/flats.

Sharp Keys

• Sharps in the key signature are always notated on the respective lines/spaces of the pitch names in this order

• F♯ C♯ G♯ D♯ A♯ E♯ B♯

• Seven Major key signatures contain sharps.

• Sharp keys are named a half step higher than the last sharp in the key. For example, D is a half step higher than C#. C# is the final sharp added in the key of D Major.

Reading Sharp Keys

• From the number of sharps
• Follow the middle circle to the number of sharps OR look at graphics of musical staveas to match the key signature to the one you see.
• The key signature will be either the Major or minor key associated with that number of sharps.
• For example- a key signature with three sharps indicates the key of A Major/f♯ minor

• From the Key Signature Name (example G Major)

• Follow the circle clockwise and stop when you are at the key signature you are looking for.
• The key signatures are a perfect fifth apart when moving clockwise with sharps.
• For example C Major to G Major, C to G is a perfect 5th
• Take note of how many sharps are in the key signature.

Reading Sharp Key Signatures

Label the number of sharps in each key

B Major ___ E Major ___ G Major __ D Major ___ A Major ___

Flat Keys

• Flats in the key signature are always notated on the respective lines/spaces of the pitch names in this order:

• B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭ G♭ C♭ F♭

• Seven Major key signatures contain flats.

• Flat keys are named by the second to last flat in the key signature, with the exception of F Major.

Reading Flat Keys

• From the Key Signature Name (example F Major)

• Follow the circle counter-clockwise and stop when you are at the key signature you are looking for
• The key signatures are a perfect fourth apart when moving clockwise with flat

• For example C Major to F Major, C to F is a perfect 4th

• Take note of how many flats are in the key signature.

• From the number of flats

• Follow the middle circle to the number of flats OR look at graphics of musical staves to match the key signature to the one you see

• The key signature will be either the Major or minor key associated with that number of flats

• For example- a key signature with three flats indicates the key of E♭ Major/g minor

Reading Flat Key Signatures

How many flats are in Db Major?

Minor Keys

• Each major key has a relative minor key

• The circle of fifths and fourths show both of these keys with the major key on the outside and the minor key on the inside

• BOTH keys have the same key signature.

Major vs. Minor

Melodic Motion

Modulation

Label the MINOR Key signature

Label the MINOR Key signature

Since there are both a major and minor key associated with a given key signature, you may need to look closer at a melody to determine what note is the tonic. Once you know the tonic, you can determine if the key signature is major or minor

Step One: Look at the Key Signature

Step Two: Identify Tonic/Central Pitch

Melodies will often start, stop, and move around a central pitch, which is often the tonic, or first scale degree Take note of notes that are often repeated in a melody and notes that it starts and ends on.

Summary

In today's lesson, you

• defined the purpose of the circle of fifths and fourths

• aurally identified the chromatic scale

• explored minor key signatures

• recognized the pattern of the circle of fifths and fourths

• distinguished the order of accidentals in a key signature