Music Notation and Theory for Intelligent Beginners

by

Jono Kornfeld

Cover art by Jason Dullack

© 2001, revised 2005 Jono Kornfeld All rights reserved. No part of this book may be duplicated in any form without written permission of the author.

Artwork © 2004 Jason Dullack: all rights reserved

Music Notation and Theory for Intelligent Beginners © 2001, revised 2005 Jono Kornfeld

Table of Contents Notes, The Staff 1 The Keyboard 2 Clefs 3 Ledger Lines 5 The Grand Staff, Accidentals 6 Simple Intervals 7 Enharmonic Equivalence 8 Double Accidentals 9 Note Values 10 Beaming 11 Stem Direction 12 Stem Length 13 Measure, Bar Line 14 Time Signatures 15 Beat Emphasis 16 Putting Notes into Practice 17 Counting Eighth Notes 17 Counting Sixteenth Notes 18 Rests 19 The Dot 20 Ties 21 Slurs 22 Other Time Signatures 23 Compound Time Signatures 24 The Triplet, Syncopation 25 Tempo I 26 Tempo II, Tempo Changes 27 Dynamics 28 Articulation 29 Economical Devices I 30 Economical Devices II 31 Economical Devices Exercises 32 The Major Scale, Keys 33 Scales Using Flats 34 Scales Using Sharps 35 Key Signatures, The Key 36 The Circle of Fifths 37 Transposition 39 Scale Degrees, Note Names 40 The Minor Scale 41 The Three Minor Scales 42

Review 43 Continuity 44 Motion 45 Intervals 47

Spelling Intervals 50 In the scale 51 Determining Intervals I 53 Determining Intervals II 54 Inversion 56 Compound Intervals 58 Hearing Intervals 59 Identifying in Context 61

Triads 63 In the Scale 64 Roman Numerals 65 Harmonization 65 Minor Key Harmonization 66 Terminology 67

7th Chords 70 Inverting Chords 73 Figured Bass Notation 74 Application to Analysis 76 Position of Upper Notes 77 Voicing a Chord 78

Contemporary Context 81 Cadences and Phrases 82

The Period 83 Melodic Aspects 84 Analysis 85

Melodies and Voice Leading 87 Examples 89

Combining Melody and Harmony 91 The Process 92

Non-Chord Tones 93 Passing Tone 94 Neighbor Tone 95 Suspension 96

Modulation 98 Appendix /Review Scales A-1 Keys & Key Signatures A-3 Circle of 5ths Reference A-5 Major Scales Reference A-6 Intervals & Figured Bass Reference A-7