Theory of Music

A Guide to the Cycle of Fifths

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The diagram that is often depicted for the Cycle of Fifths is: (This chart is courtesy of Grosse Pointe Music Academy) The above diagram is typically how we see the Cycle (or Circle) of Fifths (sometimes it is labeled as Fourths as well). To be honest, I don’t really like this common diagram as it … Read more

Musical Scales and How They Are Structured

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Once you have a sound understanding of tones (whole tones) and semitones (half tones), then you can work out what the various scales are. Major Scale – this scale has seven notes in it but when you play it on the piano you finish on the note you start just an octave higher. The pattern is … Read more

Musical Intervals and Why They Are Important to Understand

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In order to understand chords and scales and how they are structured, you need to understand what an interval is. Quite simply an interval is the distance between any two notes. Semitones are also known as Half Tones in the US, which is really the same thing as the word semi literally means half. Semitones are … Read more

Purpose of a Time Signature Part 2 – Analyzing Compound Time

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So in my previous article, I discussed what simple time signatures are and attempted to help you find ways not to just understand the theoretical definitions, but truly understand how each time signature sounds and feels. (If you would like to  review the previous article, then click here.) In Part Two here, I will be … Read more