Music Theory Intermediate

Grade 9 · Music · Study Guide

Build on foundational music theory to understand scales, chords, intervals, key signatures, and basic harmonic function.

Intermediate music theory moves beyond reading notes to understanding how music is structured harmonically and melodically. Scales are the foundation: the major scale follows the pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H (whole and half steps), while the natural minor scale uses W-H-W-W-H-W-W. Every major key has a relative minor sharing the same key signature—C major's relative minor is A minor.

Intervals describe the distance between two pitches. Intervals are classified by number (the count of letter names spanned) and quality (perfect, major, minor, augmented, diminished). A perfect fifth (like C to G) sounds stable and open; a tritone (like C to F#) sounds tense and unstable.

Chords are built by stacking thirds. A major triad (root, major third, perfect fifth) sounds bright and stable. A minor triad (root, minor third, perfect fifth) sounds darker. Adding a seventh degree creates seventh chords, the most common being the dominant seventh (major triad + minor seventh), which creates strong tension pulling toward resolution.

Harmonic function describes the role chords play in a key. The tonic (I) chord is home and rest; the dominant (V) chord creates tension that resolves to tonic; the subdominant (IV) chord moves away from tonic, setting up dominant. This I-IV-V-I progression underpins an enormous amount of Western music, from Bach chorales to the blues.

Understanding these principles empowers musicians to analyze music they hear, improvise, and compose with intention rather than accident.

Key terms

Interval
The distance in pitch between two notes, measured by the number of scale steps and the quality (perfect, major, minor, etc.).
Triad
A three-note chord built by stacking two intervals of a third; the most basic chord type in Western harmony.
Dominant Seventh
A chord built on the fifth scale degree consisting of a major triad plus a minor seventh; creates strong harmonic tension.
Relative Minor
The natural minor scale that shares the same key signature as a given major scale; begins on the 6th degree of the major scale.
Harmonic Function
The role a chord plays within a key—tonic (stability), subdominant (motion away), or dominant (tension/pull toward resolution).
Tritone
An interval of three whole steps (augmented fourth / diminished fifth); highly dissonant and unstable, requiring resolution.

Flashcards

Major Scale
A 7-note scale following the pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H; sounds bright and stable.
Natural Minor Scale
A 7-note scale following W-H-W-W-H-W-W; sounds darker or more somber than major.
Interval
The distance in pitch between two notes; described by number (e.g., fifth) and quality (e.g., perfect, major, minor).
Tritone
An interval spanning three whole steps; the most dissonant interval in Western music, dividing the octave exactly in half.
Triad
A three-note chord built by stacking two thirds; types include major, minor, augmented, and diminished.
Major Triad
A chord with a root, major third, and perfect fifth; sounds bright and consonant.
Minor Triad
A chord with a root, minor third, and perfect fifth; sounds darker and more somber.
Dominant Seventh (V7)
A chord on the 5th scale degree with a major triad plus minor seventh; creates strong pull to resolve to tonic.

Questions

  1. Which pattern of whole (W) and half (H) steps defines a major scale?

    1. W-H-W-W-H-W-W
    2. W-W-H-W-W-W-H
    3. H-W-W-H-W-W-W
    4. W-W-W-H-W-W-H
    Show answer

    Answer: W-W-H-W-W-W-H

    The major scale pattern W-W-H-W-W-W-H produces the characteristic bright, stable sound. C major: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C illustrates this perfectly.

  2. A dominant seventh chord is built on the fifth scale degree and creates harmonic tension that typically resolves to the tonic.

    Show answer

    Answer: True

    The V7 chord (dominant seventh) contains the tritone (between the 7th and 4th scale degrees), which creates instability that powerfully resolves to the I (tonic) chord.

  3. The relative minor of C major is ________ minor.

    Show answer

    Answer: a

    A minor is the relative minor of C major; both share the same key signature (no sharps or flats). A minor starts on the 6th degree of C major.

  4. A minor triad is different from a major triad in that it has a:

    1. Diminished fifth instead of a perfect fifth
    2. Minor third instead of a major third
    3. Major seventh instead of a minor seventh
    4. Perfect fourth instead of a perfect fifth
    Show answer

    Answer: Minor third instead of a major third

    The only difference between major and minor triads is the third: major uses a major third (4 half steps), minor uses a minor third (3 half steps). The fifth remains perfect in both.

  5. In harmonic function, which Roman numeral represents the dominant chord?

    1. I
    2. II
    3. IV
    4. V
    Show answer

    Answer: V

    V (Roman numeral 5) is the dominant chord. Its strong pull toward resolution to I (tonic) is the most fundamental harmonic motion in Western music.

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