Key Signatures and Composing Study Guide for Concert band

Playing Test: Concert C Major and Concert G major

C = 0

G =1 #

D = 2 #

A = 3#

E = 4#

B = 5#

F# = 6#

Db = 5 b

Ab = 4b

Eb = 3b

Bb = 2b

F = 1b

Melody - the main idea of the piece

motion - move in a scalar fashion up and down throughout the piece in various rhythms; makes for a smooth melody

Leapwise motion - adds tension and creates a disjointed melody because you are skipping notes in the scale and going to distant notes.

Melodic sequence - taking a melodic idea and keeping the intervallic relationship as you move it to another key or up the scale.

Mood - Major keys tend to be happier sounding, minor keys tend to be sadder sounding. If you use the harmonic minor scale or melodic minor, this will set your piece apart from natural minor and make it more interesting.

Harmony - more than one note at the same time

I chord - major chord built on first degree of major scale

IV chord - major chord built on 4th degree of major scale

V and V7 chord -major chord built 5th degree of major scale, and add an extra note on V7

vi chord - minor chord built on 6th degree of the major scale

Perfect Authentic Cadence - V-I

Plagal Cadence (Amen) - IV-I

Half Cadence (not resolved) - I-V

Similar motion - moving in thirds or other intervals in the same direction (up or down) with the melody

Oblique motion - staying on the same note while the melody moves

Contrary motion - moving the opposite direction of the melody

Counter Melody - an additional melodic line that complements the main tune of the song.