Simon Jordan

Violin and Piano Player for Weddings and Events

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          • Theory Grade 5 Zero to Hero
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Theory Grade 5 Zero to Hero

Course links

Day One

Italian words –

Terms and signs quiz

Lists of words by language

List of words by grade

Technical names of notes –

There are seven notes in a scale. Each note can be identified by a technical name:

  1. TONIC
  2. SUPERTONIC
  3. MEDIANT
  4. SUBDOMINANT
  5. DOMINANT
  6. SUBMEDIANT
  7. LEADING TONE

Clefs

You need to know four clefs for the test:

  1. TREBLE
  2. BASS
  3. ALTO
  4. TENOR

The treble and bass clefs are by far the most widely used. The alto clef is used by the viola. The tenor clef is used (as well as the bass clef) by the cello and the trombone, when they need to avoid switching between bass and treble clef in some passages.

Chord descriptions –

In Grade 5 Theory, you only have to recognise chords I, II, IV and V.

When the root is the lowest note, the chord is in root position.

Chords can also be inverted (re-ordered).

When a chord is “inverted” the position of the notes is changed around so that the lowest note of the chord is the third or the fifth, rather than the root. We use a lower-case “a” to signify root position, “b” for first inversion (the 3rd is the bottom note) and “c” for second inversion (the 5th is the bottom note).

We use the letters a, b and c (written in lower case letters) to describe the lowest note of a chord.

SO –

When the chord is in root position (hasn’t been inverted), we use the letter a.

When the lowest note is the third, (e.g. E in C major), we use the letter b. This is also called first inversion.

When the lowest note is the fifth, (e.g. G in C major), we use the letter c. This is also called second inversion.

Here is chord I in C major, in its three possible positions:

chord-inversions

Day Two

Compound time signatures –

Intervals –

Breves –

A comprehensive guide to breves – and double dots

Instruments of the Orchestra –

Guide from the Philharmonia Orchestra

Quiz 1

Voice Parts –

Quiz

French Words –

List

Day Three

Major Scales –

How major scales work

Chromatic Scales –

Beaming Notes –

Transposition –

Make sure you watch all three videos in the series!

German Words –

List

Day Four

Cadences –

Minor Scales – Harmonic and Melodic –

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