John Paul Ito

Teaching

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Theory Fundamentals

Theory Fundamentals

This page contains video lectures on music theory fundamentals, together with supporting materials (the indented items).

To find a theory tutor at CMU, consult this page.

Topic 1: Pitch and Pitch Notation

  • Lesson 1: Pitch and Pitch Class
  • ◦ ASA pitch designations

  • Lesson 2: Pitch Notation and Clefs
  • Clefs
  • Topic 2: Major Scales and Keys

  • Lesson 3: Major Scales; part 1
  • Lesson 3: Major Scales; part 2
  • Major Scales
  • Scale Degrees in Major
  • Population Graph
  • Lesson 4: Practice with Major Scales
  • Lesson 5: Keys and Key Signatures; part 1
  • Lesson 5: Keys and Key Signatures; part 2
  • Lesson 5: Keys and Key Signatures; part 3
  • Key signature scheme
  • Circle of fifths
  • Key signatures, key signatures in clefs
  • Topic 3: Intervals

  • Lesson 6: Intervals; part 1
  • Lesson 6: Intervals; part 2
  • Lesson 6: Intervals; part 3
  • Intervals
  • Lesson 7: Practice with Intervals
  • Error: ca 8:00, I was clearly thinking of the submediant, not the subdominant...
  • Lesson 8: More on Intervals; part 1, Inversion
  • Inversions
  • Lesson 8: More on Intervals; part 2, Compound Intervals
  • (Intervals <= 8ve are "simple intervals")
  • Lesson 8: More on Intervals; part 3, Interval Counts in Major Scales
  • Topic 4: Minor Scales and Keys

  • Lesson 9: Minor Scales; part 1
  • Lesson 9: Minor Scales; part 2
  • Minor Scales
  • Lesson 10: Minor Keys
  • Circle of Fifths with both Major and Minor Keys
  • Lesson 11: Intervals in Minor Keys
  • Topic 5: Triads

  • Lesson 12: Triads
  • Triads
  • Lesson 13: Roman Numerals and Triads in Keys
  • Roman Numerals
  • Lesson 14: Triad Inversions and Figured Bass; part 1
  • Lesson 14: Triad Inversions and Figured Bass; part 2
  • Triad Inversions
  • Lesson 15: Practice with Triads
  • Topic 6: Seventh Chords

  • Lesson 16: Seventh Chords; part 1
  • Lesson 16: Seventh Chords; part 2
  • Seventh Chords
  • Roman Numerals for Seventh Chords
  • Lesson 17: Inversions of Seventh Chords and Figured Bass
  • Inversions of Seventh Chords
  • Lesson 18: Practice with Seventh Chords