This document provides an overview of basic music theory concepts including note names, key signatures, and triads. It discusses how key signatures create tonal centers and introduces major and minor triads built on different scale degrees. Examples of diatonic chord structures and common chord progressions in the key of D major are also presented. The document is the first part of a crash course in music theory.

1. CRASH COURSE
THEORY - PART I
An Overview of Basics & Building Triads

2. Crash Course Theory
Basics Review: Staves

3. Staves Continued
Crash Course Theory
• Note names are either
on a line or a space.
• There are several
mnemonics to help you
remember the order of
note names.

4. Key Signatures
• Beginning of
piece
• Must adherer to
the key
signature unless
a note is
notated with a
natural sign.
Crash Course Theory

5. Key Signatures
continued
Crash Course Theory

6. Crash Course Theory
Key Signatures create Tonal Centers

7. Chords: Major Triads
G (5)
E (3)
C (1)
Crash Course Theory

8. Major Triads Continued
A (5)
F# (3)
D (1)
Crash Course Theory

9. Minor Triads
Crash Course Theory
C Minor Triad D Minor Triad
*No key signatures are displayed
The third of a major triad is lowered
by a half step to create a minor triad

10. Crash Course Theory
Diatonic Chord Structures

11. Crash Course Theory
Diatonic Chord Structures
*Triads built on every scale degree in D major. All Fs and Cs are
raised by a half step to adhere to the key signature, which is not displayed.

12. Crash Course Theory
Common Chord Progressions
I, IV, V I, vi, IV, V

13. Crash Course Theory
LESSON 1 COMPLETE!

14. Works Cited
Crash Course Theory
• Slide 1: http://twitterponies.wikia.com/wiki/File:Treble-clef-hi.png
• Slide 2: http://www.musicliteracy.info/musicliteracy/?p=9
• Slide 3:http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~music/cmsip/resources/music-theory.
html
• Slide 4: made on finale
• Slide 5: http://www.decodeunicode.org/u+266F
• Slide 6: http://www.charbase.com/images/glyph/9837
• Slide 7: Made on Finale
• Slide 8: Made on Finale
• Slide 9: Made on Finale
• Slide 11: Made on Finale
• Slide 12: Made on Finale
• Slides 14-17: Made on Finale
• Music: “ Subterranean Homesick Blues” – Bob Dylan
• “In The Aeroplane Over the Sea” – Neutral Milk Hotel