KVR Audio

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Thu Jul 19, 2018 7:08 pm

Hello, my friends

Here's a small melody which is an exercise to find out the scale and key used.
If I've learned my lessons well, the key is A Maj . This is in fact the A Maj scale arranged in a way to accentuate the A Maj chord (in fact it never leaves that chord).
Obviously, as there are all the A Maj scale notes, we can build all the chords (triads, at least) but, as I say earlier, it seems the I chord is the one emphasized.

Assuming my thoughts are correct, my question is: how should I interpret the function of the non-chord tones (all except the A, C#, E)? Are they what is called passing tones?

Didn't noticed the image was missing. My appologies.

Thanks

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:19 pm

Those are all called passing tones (because stepwise approach).

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:24 pm

Thanks for the reply, jancivil.
And if they're not stepwise? Simply non-chord tones?

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 4:40 am

This flash cards bit pretty much covers it.
The word 'dissonance' is used, which is contextual.

https://quizlet.com/182957008/music-the ... ash-cards/

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 10:47 am

In the first two bars, for ex, the non-chord tones are additionally neighbor tones...Am I correct?

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Sat Jul 21, 2018 9:45 pm

Yep.

BTW, my remark on the flash cards page's use of 'dissonance' was incomplete. They simply mean 'non-chord tone' where a chord tone is expected. I think the word 'dissonance' is not needed. And can muddy the waters.

Hooj · Post by **Hooj** » Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:53 am

rbarata wrote:In the first two bars, for ex, the non-chord tones are additionally neighbor tones...Am I correct?

Nonchord tones are classified based on how they are approached and resolved.

Passing tones connect two chord tones by step, (up or down the scale) in the same direction.

Neighbor tones are also approached and resolved by step, but in opposite directions (up-down or down-up).

jancivil · Post by **jancivil** » Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:14 pm

Unnecessary dichotomy, distinction without a difference.

C# B C# D E: B neighbors the chord tone C# and continues in a scalar passage, passing the chord tone again while moving to the next neighbor, D (which is another neighbor; like any scalar passage over a single chord will show in its passing).

NoirSuede · Post by **NoirSuede** » Fri Jul 27, 2018 8:22 pm

rbarata wrote:Hello, my friends

Assuming my thoughts are correct, my question is: how should I interpret the function of the non-chord tones (all except the A, C#, E)? Are they what is called passing tones?

Didn't noticed the image was missing. My appologies.

Thanks

First of all, you've already found the scale, what you're trying to find are chords.
note that, in your example since all the non-root notes got the same beat, they could actually end up sounding like as if they bunched together as 1 big chord:

Bar 1 (A - C# - D - E): Dmaj9 aka IV9
Bar 2 (C# - D - E - F#): also Dmaj9
Bar 3 (E - G# - A - B): Amaj9 aka I9

rbarata · Post by **rbarata** » Fri Jul 27, 2018 11:35 pm

Yes, that's another way to see it.
But, as the melody have all the scale notes, we must rely on our ears to find what's being accentuated.

NoirSuede · Post by **NoirSuede** » Sat Jul 28, 2018 6:15 am

rbarata wrote:Yes, that's another way to see it.
But, as the melody have all the scale notes, we must rely on our ears to find what's being accentuated.

Aand here's the song in wav form:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/e9qhtfrmhu5mq ... a.wav?dl=0

Exercise - Find the scale.