Tag: music-theory
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Understanding Functional Harmony: A Composer’s Secret Weapon
If you’ve ever wondered why certain chords work so well together or how musicians seem to know exactly which chord to play next, the answer usually comes down to one thing: functional harmony. Using the system popularized by the Mapping Tonal Harmony Pro app, we can break down chords into three core “functions”—Tonic, Subdominant, and…
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The Circle of Fifths: Your Essential Map for Understanding Music
If there’s one diagram that brings together almost everything you need to know about Western music theory, it’s the Circle of Fifths. It’s not just a handy reminder of key signatures—it’s a map that explains how music works on a deeper level, influencing harmony, tonality, chord progressions, cadences, and even the advanced concept of negative…
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🎓 ABRSM Music Theory Grades 1–5: Complete Revision Checklist
🎼 1. Key Signatures & Scales Grade Major Keys Minor Keys Scale Knowledge 1 C, G, D, F A, E, D Tonics, scales, tones/semitones 2 A, E, B♭ G, B, E Key signatures, relative minors 3 B, A♭ C♯, C, F All scales with up to 4 sharps/flats 4 All major/minor up to 5 sharps/flats…
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🎼 ABRSM Music Theory Guide: Scales & Modes (Grades 1–5)
Understanding scales is at the heart of music theory — they shape melody, harmony, key, and even style. From major and minor scales to the introduction of modes, here’s how ABRSM builds this crucial knowledge step by step. 🔍 What Is a Scale? A scale is a sequence of notes in ascending or descending order,…
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🎼 ABRSM Music Theory Guide: Intervals (Grades 1–5)
Understanding intervals is essential to reading music, analysing harmony, and building chords. Intervals are the distances between two notes, and you’ll see them everywhere in theory and practical playing. 🔍 What Is an Interval? An interval is the number of letter names and steps between two notes — for example, C to E is a…
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