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Music, Music Theory

Music Theory Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to the Language of Music

November 30, 2020

As children, we learn to identify letters followed by simple words. We then gradually progress to reading a full sentence. The next step is learning how to read multiple clauses. Eventually, this turns into reading complex paragraphs, whole chapters, and more. We learn musical notation in similar stages, and our musical literacy becomes defined by our understanding of music theory. Like any language, it’s not enough to just read the words and symbols on the page. You have to understand what it all  means.  

So Where Do We Start?  

For beginners, the main subject areas of music theory are: 

  1. Timing and Rhythm 
  2. Melody and Harmony (pitch relationships)   
  3. Dynamics (loud vs. soft) 

Let’s go through them one at a time. Bare in mind, this blog does not include  illustrations a teacher might provide. So make sure you review all of this material  carefully with your instructor.   

1. Timing and Rhythm 

Beginners must learn how to follow a strict, unwavering pulse in music. 4/4 is the most common time signature or meter. There are many other meters too. In 4/4  time, the quarter note receives or equals one beat, and there are four beats per  measure. In 3/4 time, another common time signature, there are 3 beats per measure, but the quarter note still equals one beat.  

But what is a beat, and what is a measure?

A beat is a unit of time. It is the pulse of the music. If you see someone tapping their foot to a song, they are probably tapping to the beat. A measure or bar is a segment of music, and bar lines indicate the beginning and the end of each measure. All music is segmented into measures, and unless the time signature changes, those measures must all have the same number of beats. 

To understand basic rhythms, you must understand simple math. Beginners will need to understand whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes. These are not the only rhythms in music, but these are the ones used most often by beginners. 

Imagine a whole pie or a full circle. Let’s call that pie a whole note. If you divide  the whole note into equal halves, you now have two half notes. If you divide it into equal quarters, you now have four quarter notes. Divide it again into eight equal parts and you now have eight eighth notes.

All of these rhythms add up to one  whole note. This is best illustrated by a rhythm tree, which shows the divisional  relationship between notes. The same relationships exist between musical  rests (silent notes). For each note, there is an equivalent rest.   

2. Melody and Harmony (pitch relationships) 

There are seven pitches in music: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, plus corresponding flats  and sharps. To begin to understand pitch relationships you must grasp:  

  • Diatonic Intervals 
  • Scales (also called modes) 
  • Chords (block or broken)  
  • Keys 

But first, what is a melody?  

Melodies are single musical lines (sung or played) that usually hover above the chords (harmony). The melody captures the attention of the ear, and it may be referred to as the “tune” of a piece. Melody and harmony are always related. They use the same ingredients and both exist in the same key. A key is a set of notes that corresponds to a specific major or minor scale. There are 15 major keys, and the  relationship between these keys (and scales) is best understood through a diagram  called The Circle of Fifths. 

Let’s dissect an ascending C major scale to understand its elements. Like all scales,  the major scale is composed of diatonic intervals. On the piano, C major uses the white keys of the keyboard. There are seven distinct notes in a C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B followed by a return to the pitch C. However, since you are ascending the keyboard, the second C is played one octave higher than the first C.  

The intervallic relationship between these notes is: 

  1. Whole Step (C to D) 
  2. Whole Step (D to E) 
  3. Half Step (E to F) 
  4. Whole Step (F to G) 
  5. A Whole Step (G to A) 
  6. Another Whole Step (A to B) 
  7. Half Step (B to C) 

An intervallic step is the distance between two notes. Steps may be whole or half.  You will notice that there are seven steps–also called scale degrees–in the C major  scale. This is true of all major and minor scales. In the major scale, there are five  whole steps and two half steps. Melodic intervals are played consecutively.  Harmonic intervals are played together.  

Chords (harmony) are formed by combining two or more notes. If you play the  notes of a chord simultaneously, they are called block chords. If you play the chord tones in succession, they are called broken chords. Basic chords, such as C major, often contain three notes (triad). In this example, the notes are: C, E, and G. More advanced chords contain chordal extensions or additional notes, which add sophistication to the sound of the chord.  

3. Dynamics (loud vs. soft)  

Music that is mono-dynamic (one volume) sounds flat and uninteresting. Dynamics  allow the performer to play multidimensionally and with greater expression. The  most important dynamic levels a student needs to know are: pp (pianissimo or very  soft), p (piano or soft), mp (mezzo-piano or medium soft), mf (mezzo-forte or  medium loud), f (forte or loud), and ff (fortissimo or very loud). 

Dynamics are relative to the piece of music, and to other external factors like the  acoustics of the performance venue and, when applicable, the size and makeup of  an ensemble. Genre and era may play a factor as well. 

Put Your Music Theory Basics into Practice

I hope you’ll explore each of the terms used in this blog to continue your study of music theory. When you’re playing a piece on the piano, or reading sheet music in your next guitar lessons – use these music theory basics to help you deepen your understanding of the musical language. 

Eric Starr
Eric is a third generation musician from Western New York. A multitalented artist, Eric has worked as a composer, percussionist, pianist, author and educator for most of his life.

As a composer, Eric has received four prestigious Meet the Composer grants, a Utah Arts Council grant, NEA Foundation grants and more. In 2007, the premiere of his concerto for saxophone and strings received a standing ovation at The Lighthouse: Poole's Centre for the Arts (Dorset, England).
​
In October of 2018 Eric 's "Twelve Pieces for Solo Piano" and "Movement I: Time" from "Between the Sandhills and the Sea" were performed at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Earlier in March of 2018, "Twelve Pieces" was premiered at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, NY. Both performances featured pianist Michelle Alvarado and "Movement I: Time" was performed by Alvarado with cellist Hannah Holman.
​
Eric 's jazz band, The Eric Group, has released two critically acclaimed albums and his group has performed at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, among other venues. His albums have received international radio play and rave reviews in Downbeat Magazine, The Jazz Journal, Jazzwise Magazine, the All Music Guide and over a dozen additional publications worldwide. Brian Morton, publisher of the Penguin Guide to Jazz called his album Such Is Life “One of my favorite releases of the year.” Iconic drummer, Bill Bruford, called Eric “an extremely welcome new addition to the club [of percussionist composers]” and famed composer Steve Reich wrote, “I’m impressed with the directness of Eric’s music and the craft with which he has written it. His music would appeal to a wide variety of listeners.”

As an author and educator, Eric has written five books about music for Adams Media, Inc. Two of them have been translated into Spanish. In 2010, Eric was a featured speaker at Loyola University New Orleans' Beiver Guest Lecturer Series. Since 1995, he has also appeared as a guest artist and clinician at many high schools and colleges throughout the country.

Eric currently resides in the lower Hudson Valley where he also teaches private lessons to dozens of music students. Additionally, the Starr Music Studio hosts two student recitals every year at The Chapel Restoration in Cold Spring, NY.
Eric Starr
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