Week 5

Objectives:
Review: Intervals and Chords
Chord Progression
Scale/Chord Assignment

Assignments:
NEW: Chord / Scale Assignment
NEW: NOTES / SCALES / CHORDS / INTERVALS REVIEW

Review

Intervals

Review

An interval is the difference between 2 pitches

OR
the space between 2 pitches

Remember that this could refer to two situations:

2 pitches sounded separately (1 after the other)
OR
2 pitches sounded simultaneously

Identifying intervals
There are 3 ways to identify intervals; Let's us C and E as an example

1. We can find a numerical value for the difference in Hz values for the pitches by using subtraction
ex. C =523Hz E =659Hz
659-523 = 136 (difference in Hz)

2. We can measure the distance between notes in steps/half steps (this is where we think of the ladder)
ex. C and E
4 half steps OR 2 whole steps (difference in steps)

3. The Third and most common way is to identify the intervals according to their respective scale degrees. For this method we must refer to our major scale. Since our example is C and E, we will refer the C Major Scale (always use the bottom note's major scale)
ex. C and E
refer to C major
E is the 3rd scale degree
so this interval would be a 3rd
**** remember this can be confusing because the number does not reflect the # or half/whole steps, or the # of Hz - These are different methods of measurement!******

Formula for Identifying intervals

Remember that for class we will use the most common method which is naming intervals according to their respective scale degree

Steps for Identifying/naming an Interval
-let's us C and G as examples-

Step 1: Find the major scale to reference

we will always use the bottom/lowest note of the interval
In this case, the bottom/lowest note is C

This means that (using our method) the bottom note will always be the 1st scale degree (as seen above, we are using C/G, C reference scale, so C is the 1)

Step 2 : Identify the scale degree of the top note

We know the bottom note is the 1, so we must count which scale degree the top note is, and this will give us the name for the interval
This scale has the numbers put in (useful to have) so we can see just by looking at the G that it is the 5

Step 3 : Name the interval

Since G is the 5 of the C scale , this interval would be called a

Fifth

Interval Practice

1. Pitches : C and A

Find reference scale
count the scale degrees
name interval

3. Pitches : C and D

5. A and D

Careful!! Since our bottom pitch has changed, we need a different reference scale!

7. D and F#

2. Pitches : C and F

Find reference scale
count scale degrees
name interval

4. Pitches : C and B

6. A and E

What is our reference scale?

8. D and A

Notes on Intervals:
- Remember that certain intervals sound better than others
- many times we don't like the sound of intervals that are too close together (too clashy)

Chords

Review

Remember that a chord is 3 or more pitches being sounded/played simultaneously
This is important because and interval IS NOT a chord as it is only 2 notes. chords give us an extra note and more harmonic information. A chord would have to be at least 2 intervals played at the same time

(like a C and a E , with an E and a G)

A chord with 3 notes is called a Triad (Tri=3)

We will focus mainly on the two most common types of triads,

Major
and
Minor

Chords are based off of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale degree of their respective Major or Minor scale (depending on the type of chord - major scale for major chord, minor scale for minor chord)

Building a Chord (finding the right notes)

Steps for identifyin/building a chord
-let's use C major as an example-

Step 1 : find the major scale to reference

We will generally us the the scale after which the chord is named
in this case, for a c major chord, we will use a c major scale to reference

As we can see, the C is the first note in our scale, or the 1st scale degree

Step 2 : Locating the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale degrees

with this numbered diagram it is easy to see that our 1st 3rd and 5th are C E and G respectively.
Step 3 : Name the notes in the chord

C E G

Notes on Chords:
- The Formula for building a Minor Chord are the same as a major, But we would use a MINOR SCALE as our REFERENCE SCALE. ( Example. If we were trying to find the notes of a C MINOR chord, we would us C MINOR SCALE as a reference (as apposed to c major scale for c major chord)

-We can see how important Scales are !! We must know our major and minor scales in order to find the notes in chords and intervals ! It is especially important when we don't have the resource of google to look for a particular scale!

Chord Progression

Dictionary Definition: A chord progression or harmonic progression is a series of musical chords, or chord changes that "aims for a definite goal" of establishing (or contradicting) a tonality founded on a key, root or tonic chord and that is based upon a succession of root relationships.

Chord Progression: A specific, repetitive arrangement of chords intended to provide familiarity to the listener.

A chord Progression is generally a series of 4/5 chords that loop around in succession, sometimes for an entire song.

Chord Progressions are meant to be repetitive in order to give the listener (even if they are unaware) some familiar material they have heard before
(maybe in another song, or because it loops around in perpetuity in that respective song)

Example
Notice how this John Legend tune loops the chords progression as an intro at the beginning of the song - immediately we have a sort of musical home established and keeps us there pretty much the whole time.

But this is also isn't the first time we have heard this particular progression others have used this progression to create a musical home
Example

So chord progressions are meant to sound familiar to us, both because they are repetitive within a song, and because we have heard them before in other songs.

The particular chord progression we just heard was
vi IV I V
These are roman numerals for
6 4 1 5

We use roman numerals to identify which scale degree a chord is based off of. So if we are on our c major scale, and we say the "V" of "5 chord", that would be a chord based off the 5th scale degree

Identifying Chords in a Chord Progression

So far we have focused on building chords off of the 1st scale degree of a scale
i.e. when building a C Major scale, we build it from the 1 3, 5 of the c scale

We can also build chords off of the other scale degrees

For example, we could build a scale off of the 2nd scale degree of a c major scale. Instead of the 1, 3 and 5 , we would use the 2, 4 and 6 scale degrees

For example

we could build a scale off of the 2nd scale degree of a c major scale - Instead of the 1, 3 and 5 , we would use the 2, 4 and 6 scale degrees

We almost always skip steps in between notes of a chord

So depending on the starting note, we go up by thirds/2 scale degrees
1 3 5 2 4 6 3 5 7 4 6 1

5 7 2 6 1 3 7 2 4

This is different because now were are taking multiple chords from one scale, rather than just from the 1st scale degree.

By this logic there are actually 7 different chords we can play all from the notes in one scale

Check out this interesting Website where we can find trends in Pop Music

There are DOZENS of chord progressions engrained into your ear that you are already familiar with, without even knowing it! This is something composers depend on so they can create a musical HOME

Common Chord Progression:

I V vi IV

Today we will focus on two chords.
These are the most common chords and when played in succession make up the most common chord progression : the

V - I
(5 - 1)

Forumla for identifying these chords
We will be in the key of C Major, and will Use the C major Scale as a reference

The I (1) Chord

This chord is based off of the 1st scale degree, so the process is the same as we have been using.

Refer to a c major scale, and build a chord off the first degree

C E G

The V (5) Chord

This is where we get a little different. The steps are the same, but because we are in the key of C, we will still use the C scale for our reference scale.

We will build chord off of the 5th (V) Scale degree
5th degree = G

G B D

These two chords comprise the most common chords progression, the V I. This can be heard in virtually any song with more than 1 chord. Over time it has been expanded to include other chords in the progression (we usually hear more than 2 chord in todays music)

We will use these chords for our assignment today!

GarageBand Scale/Chord Assignment

The objective for this assignment is to combine our knowledge of chords/chord progressions and scales to record a 'song' into garage band. This song will consist of a scale and accompanying chords that match up with the scale. For this assignment our chord progression will only be 2 chords ( I and V ), but we will add 2 more chords ( IV and vi ) to it next week and will then have the ability to play a I vi V IV progression with a melody. This will allow us to record a lot of different songs into GB

To complete this assignment you will need the following knowledge of:

GarageBand: Open a New Project, Add Tracks, record/Input Notes, and Save/Bounce as PDF
(refer to week 1 intro to GB assignment )
Scales - C Major Scale, Ability to Play on Keyboard
Chords - Knowledge of C Major and G Major Chords , Ability to play on Keyboards

Instructions

Step 1

Open a Garage Band Project
- (additional instructions for this can be found in week 1 intro to garageband assignment)
Add 2 tracks (one will be for a scale, one will be for chords)
- use the default instrument to start

Step 2

We will first record the SCALE in track one. It will be easier to match up the chords with the right notes if we already have to scale in-putted
To record, push either 'R' on the keyboard (shortcut) or the Red record button
- To stop recording, use the same commands or the stop button
  - you can high light, delete/copy/past just like in a word processing program.
  - Since we are playing this out of time, tune of the metronome (top right beside the '1,2,3,4'
We will use the C MAJOR SCALE and will record Ascending AND Descending (up and down)
- NOTE - you can play the scale at any tempo/speed you like - it will be easier to line-up your chords/scale if you play it Slow
- refer to your previous homework with your keyboard note guides to see which notes you need. i have also included the music below.
- YOU CAN RECORD THE ASCENDING AND DESCENDING PORTIONS SEPARATELY - EVEN GO NOTE BY NOTE
  - Remember you can take as many times as you need to record (simply delete your work and start over again)
    - although you can so any speed you like, it is best to try to go at a steady pace
      - HINT: * a C Major scale is made up of all the white notes played from C to C

TRACK 1

TRACK 2

Step 3

Now that we have our scale in-putted, we can play our chord progression under it.
We are only using 2 chords, but we must place the chords in the right spots. It makes sense to start and end on the I chord (C major) since we are in the key of C, and our V chord (G Major) will be plugged in in between
- We will start on the I Chord and play this to accompany the first 4 notes
  - The first time we switch to the V chord (G major) is on the 5th scale degree, or the G. Notice this is the same note/ scale degree as the chord we are switching to
    - We then go back to the I chord (c major) when we get to the top note, or the C
      - Stay on the I chord until we get to the 5th scale degree again, then switch the the G Major
        Stay on the V until we get back down to the bottom note, then switch to the 1 chord

Step 4

When you have both scale and chords inputted, you have completed the assignment. Be sure that your notes / chords line up in the right spots.

Bonus Steps:

*** This step is not required, but if you finish quickly and want to do extra work you may do the following

Change instrumentation
Double Chords/Scales (i.e. copy and past into other tracks so multiple instruments are playing them)
Do the scale twice to make it longer, changing instrumentations