The bass clef is used to read music for instruments that have low sounds like bass, upright bass, baritone saxophone, etc. Each line and between line represents notes on your instrument as shown in the diagram below. Notes can keep going higher and lower by adding lines manually.
Bass Clef
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The treble clef is the original way to read music. It is used to read notes for instruments that play high notes like the right hand on piano, flute, guitar, ukulele, violin, etc. Each line and between line represents notes on your instrument as shown in the diagram below. Notes can keep going higher and lower by adding lines manually.
Treble Clef
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Intervals are distance between two notes. The name of the intervals (Unison, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Octave) describe the distance letter to letter from the root note (C to D: second; C to E: third; etc). The adjectives (minor, major, perfect, diminished, augmented) are determined by the number of tones from the root note.
When you want to figure out an interval, like a minor 6th. Start by counting the number of notes (don't be afraid to count on your fingers, it is more visual that way), so starting from C: C, D, E, F, G, A. So A is the note we are looking for. Then, figure out the number of tones to know if it is minor or major. C to A has 4 1/2 tones, but we want a minor 6th which only has 4 tones, so we change or A to an Ab (A flat). Even though it is the same note as G#, the 6th is A, so we have to call the minor 6th of C is Ab. G# would be the augmented 5th.
Below is a diagram showing the different intervals up to the octave. Note that some of the intervals overlap the other like the augmented fourth and the diminished fifth which are using the same note in theory (F#/Gb), but will be used in different context.
Intervals Diagram
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The Circle of fifths is divided in two parts, the key signature with sharps and the ones with flats. These two circles are used as cheat sheets to figure out all the key signatures.
The Circle of fifths in sharp works clockwise. Start from the key of C, because it's the only key signature with no alterations (# or b). Then you go a perfect fifth higher, which takes you to the key of G. Find the major 7th of G and you'll find the first alteration, so in this case F#. Then, you keep going clockwise. The perfect fifth of G is D and the major 7th of D is C#. So, the alterations in the key of D are F# and C#. Keep adding on to the alterations you find at the beginning of the circle until you have seven sharps.
Once you know what are the sharps in the key signature that you were interested in, you simply write your scale one note at a time, but adding the sharps. Per example, if you are looking for the key of E. You know that E has four sharps, therefor the scale is : E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E.
Circle of Fifths (#)
If you notice, at the top right of the circle of fifths in sharp, you can find the order of sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#. If you have your key signature written on a staff and you are wondering which key it is. Check the last sharp and add half a tone to it, it will tell you what key you are in. Per example, if you know that your last sharp is A#, then you know you are in the key of B
The circle of fifths in flat works counter-clockwise. So, you start from the key of C, then you find the perfect fifth before. So, from C, the perfect fifth before is F. To figure out what flat will be part of the key signature of F, you simply find our what the next perfect fifth before is. So, the alteration in the key of F is Bb.
Circle of Fifths Flats (b)
The order of flats is : Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb. If you look closely, you might notice that it is the complete opposite of the order of sharps, which means that if you memorize one of the two orders, you can simply reverse it to get the other one.
Here is how to write the order of sharps and flats on a staff with a treble clef and bass clef.
Key Signatures on staff
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The major scale is the most important scale in music. It is the scale that every other scale gets compared to. So, here is the way to figure out a major scale from the root note.
To create the major scale briefly, you simply find the root note, then find the notes in this order: Tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone, tone, semi-tone.
Creating Major Scale (C)
So, if you ever forget what the order is, simply go back to the scale of C and try to figure out the distance between each note. Below is an example in the key of E.
Creating Major Scale (E)
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In music, a chord is the combination of several single notes that sound good together. Basic chords are build of a root note, which is the note that defines the name of the chord; a third, which is literally the third note of the scale and the most important note, because depending on the distance (number of tones) between the root and the third, the chord will be major or minor. Then, you need the fifth to complete the chord. You can refer to the Intervals lesson to help you.
The example below uses the scale of C major (C, D, E, F, G, A, B). The example shows the name of the chords that were created from the root, third and fifth of each note of the scale.
Creating Chords
Lets break down the process of creating chords from a scale. Looking at a keyboard is very useful to count the tones between each note.
Keyboard
To create chords, start out with the root of each chord.
Creating Chords (Root)
Then, you add the third of each chord. With the chord of C, the third will be E, as you always count the root. The distance between C and E is 2 tones, so it is a major third. Therefor, the chord of C is a major chord. The chord of D is minor, because the distance between D and F is 1 1/2 tones, therefor it has a minor third. The lower case "m" is used to describe the chord as a minor chord.
Creating Chords (Third)
Finally, you add the fifth of each chord. If the fifth is not perfect (3 1/2 tones) you need to add (b5) to the chord name. It simply means that the fifth is diminished (lower than a perfect fifth).
Creating Chords (Fifth)
This way of creating chords works the opposite way as well. If you are wondering what are the notes in a chord of Fm, you start with the root which is F, then find the minor third which is Ab, then the perfect fifth which is C. So, the chord of F is composed of F, Ab, C.
Below is how the chords should look like on a staff with the treble clef
Chords on Staff with Treble Clef
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