Diminished triadIn music theory, a diminished triad is a triad with a minor third and a diminished fifth above the root. When using chord symbols, it may be indicated by the symbols "dim", "", "m", or "MI". However, in most popular-music chord books, the symbol "dim" or "" represents a diminished seventh chord (a four-tone chord), which in some modern jazz books and music theory books is represented by the "dim7" or "" symbols.
Minor chordA minor chord is a triad with a minor third and a perfect fifth above the root. The minor triad built on C is spelled C–E♭–G. StructureThe primary intervals in a minor chord are the minor third above the root, and the perfect fifth above the root. There is a major third between the third and fifth. It is a tertian chord because it is built in thirds.A minor triad is represented by the integer notation {0,3,7}.
Major chordA major chord is a triad with a major third and a perfect fifth above the root. The major chord above C is spelled C–E–G. StructureThe primary intervals in a major chord are the major third between the first and second notes, the perfect fifth between the first and third notes, and the minor third between the second and third notes. It is a tertian chord, because it is built in thirds. When the root of the chord is not in the bass, the chord is considered inverted.
Borrowed chordA borrowed chord (also called chord borrowing, mode mixture, modal mixture, substituted chord, modal interchange, or mutation) is a chord borrowed from the parallel key (minor or major scale with the same tonic). Borrowed chords are typically used as "color chords", providing harmonic variety through contrasting scale forms, which are major scales and the three forms of minor scales.
Degree (music)In music theory, the scale degree is the position of a particular note on a scale relative to the tonic—the first and main note of the scale from which each octave is assumed to begin. Degrees are useful for indicating the size of intervals and chords and whether an interval is major or minor. In the most general sense, the scale degree is the number given to each step of the scale, usually starting with 1 for tonic. Defining it like this implies that a tonic is specified.
Key (music)In Western tonal music, a key represents the most common pitches and the center of tonal stability in a song or other composition. A key has two components: a tonic pitch and a mode. The tonic pitch is represented by a letter from A through G, sometimes modified by the accidental symbols ♯ (sharp) and ♭ (flat). This tonic represents the musical pitch which a piece will be oriented around and almost always conclude with.Altered chordAn altered chord is a chord that replaces one or more notes from the diatonic scale with a neighboring pitch from the chromatic scale. By the broadest definition, any chord with a non-diatonic chord tone is an altered chord. The simplest example of altered chords is the use of borrowed chords, chords borrowed from the parallel key, and the most common is the use of secondary dominants.Roman numeral analysisIn music theory, Roman numeral analysis is a type of harmonic analysis in which chords are represented by Roman numerals, which encode the chord's degree and harmonic function within a given musical key. Specific notation conventions vary: some theorists use uppercase numerals (e.g. I, IV, V) to represent major chords, and lowercase numerals (e.g. ii, iii, vi) to represent minor chords. Others use uppercase numerals for all chords regardless of their quality.
Baroque musicBaroque music (UK: or US: ) refers to the period or dominant style of Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Classical period after a short transition (the galant style). Baroque music forms a major portion of the "classical music" canon, and continues to be widely studied, performed, and listened to.
Classical period (music)The Classical period was an era of classical music between roughly 1750 and 1820. The classical period falls between the Baroque and Romantic periods. It is mainly homophonic, using a clear melody line over a subordinate chordal accompaniment, but counterpoint was by no means forgotten, especially in liturgical vocal music and, later in the period, secular instrumental music.
Romantic musicMusic of the Romantic periodJosef Danhauser's 1840 painting Liszt at the Piano featuring Franz Liszt at the piano surrounded by (from left to right) Alexandre Dumas, Hector Berlioz, George Sand, Niccolò Paganini, Gioachino Rossini and Marie d'Agoult, with a bust of Ludwig van Beethoven on the pianoCommon practice periodNew musicRomantic music is a stylistic movement in Western Classical music associated with the period of the 19th century commonly referred to as the Romantic era (or Romantic period).
Popular musicPopular music is music with wide appeal that is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. These forms and styles can be enjoyed and performed by people with little or no musical training. As a kind of popular art, it stands in contrast to art music. Art music was historically disseminated through the performances of written music, although since the beginning of the recording industry, it is also disseminated through recordings.JazzJazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, hymns, marches, vaudeville song, and dance music. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major form of musical expression in both traditional and popular music.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.