LESSON 1TETRACHORDS AND SCALESOVERVIEWLESSON DESCRIPTION:In this lesson, you will learn to identify and write tetrachords.TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:ACTION: You will identify and write tetrachords.CONDITION: Given the material in this lesson.STANDARD: IAW the information given in this lesson.REFERENCES: The material in this lesson was derived from Training Circular 12 41 and 12 42.INTRODUCTIONA tetrachord is a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch according to a specified interval scheme. An interval is the difference in pitch between tones. Music depends on the succession of pitches and certain measurable patterns of intervals used with regularity. These patterns may be extracted from musical examples, arranged in order, and expressed as scales.The basic intervals used for scale analysis are the half step (semitone) and whole step (whole tone). Any two adjacent keys on the keyboard sound a half step. The interval of two half steps sounds a whole step. A whole step (two half steps) occurs between C and D, D and E, F and G, G and A, and A and B. Observe that there are no keys between E and F, and B and C; these intervals are half steps (Figure 1 1).
LESSON 1TETRACHORDS AND SCALESOVERVIEWLESSON DESCRIPTION:In this lesson, you will learn to identify and write tetrachords.TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE:ACTION: You will identify and write tetrachords.CONDITION: Given the material in this lesson.STANDARD: IAW the information given in this lesson.REFERENCES: The material in this lesson was derived from Training Circular 12 41 and 12 42.INTRODUCTIONA tetrachord is a graduated series of musical tones ascending or descending in order of pitch according to a specified interval scheme. An interval is the difference in pitch between tones. Music depends on the succession of pitches and certain measurable patterns of intervals used with regularity. These patterns may be extracted from musical examples, arranged in order, and expressed as scales.The basic intervals used for scale analysis are the half step (semitone) and whole step (whole tone). Any two adjacent keys on the keyboard sound a half step. The interval of two half steps sounds a whole step. A whole step (two half steps) occurs between C and D, D and E, F and G, G and A, and A and B. Observe that there are no keys between E and F, and B and C; these intervals are half steps (Figure 1 1). Figure 1 1: Whole Steps and Half Steps.
PART A TETRACHORDS1. Tetrachord Structurea. A tetrachord is a series of four tones on successive degrees of the staff with an interval of five half steps between the first and last tones. The tetrachord is used in constructing and analyzing.b. Tetrachords used are the major (M), minor (m), natural (N), and harmonic (H). Any tetrachord may be constructed on any pitch and will retain the interval relationship of the tetrachord.2. Major Tetrachord (M) The major tetrachord is composed of two half steps, two half steps and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-2). Figure 1-2: Major Tetrachords.3. Minor Tetrachord (m) The minor tetrachord is composed of two half steps, one half step and two half steps ascending on four successive scale degrees (Figure 1-3). Figure 1-3: Minor Tetrachords.4. Natural Tetrachord (N) The natural tetrachord is composed of one half step, two half steps and two half steps ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-4). Figure 1-4: Natural Tetrachords. 5. Harmonic Tetrachord (H) The harmonic tetrachord is composed of one half step, three half steps, and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-5).Figure 1-5: Harmonic Tetrachords.6. Scale construction using Tetrachordsa. Scales constructed with tetrachords combine two tetrachords and a link (abbreviated L). The link is always composed of two half steps (a whole step) on adjacent staff degrees. The link may be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the scale. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave (Figure 1-6). Figure 1-6: Tetrachords and Link in Scale Construction. b. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave. An octave is an interval containing twelve half steps. It is the distance from one pitch to the next higher or lower pitch with the same letter name C-C (Figure 1-7). Figure 1-7:Octave on a Piano Keyboard.
Figure 1 1: Whole Steps and Half Steps.
PART A TETRACHORDS1. Tetrachord Structurea. A tetrachord is a series of four tones on successive degrees of the staff with an interval of five half steps between the first and last tones. The tetrachord is used in constructing and analyzing.b. Tetrachords used are the major (M), minor (m), natural (N), and harmonic (H). Any tetrachord may be constructed on any pitch and will retain the interval relationship of the tetrachord.2. Major Tetrachord (M) The major tetrachord is composed of two half steps, two half steps and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-2). Figure 1-2: Major Tetrachords.3. Minor Tetrachord (m) The minor tetrachord is composed of two half steps, one half step and two half steps ascending on four successive scale degrees (Figure 1-3). Figure 1-3: Minor Tetrachords.4. Natural Tetrachord (N) The natural tetrachord is composed of one half step, two half steps and two half steps ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-4). Figure 1-4: Natural Tetrachords. 5. Harmonic Tetrachord (H) The harmonic tetrachord is composed of one half step, three half steps, and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-5).Figure 1-5: Harmonic Tetrachords.6. Scale construction using Tetrachordsa. Scales constructed with tetrachords combine two tetrachords and a link (abbreviated L). The link is always composed of two half steps (a whole step) on adjacent staff degrees. The link may be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the scale. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave (Figure 1-6). Figure 1-6: Tetrachords and Link in Scale Construction. b. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave. An octave is an interval containing twelve half steps. It is the distance from one pitch to the next higher or lower pitch with the same letter name C-C (Figure 1-7). Figure 1-7:Octave on a Piano Keyboard.
PART A TETRACHORDS1. Tetrachord Structurea. A tetrachord is a series of four tones on successive degrees of the staff with an interval of five half steps between the first and last tones. The tetrachord is used in constructing and analyzing.b. Tetrachords used are the major (M), minor (m), natural (N), and harmonic (H). Any tetrachord may be constructed on any pitch and will retain the interval relationship of the tetrachord.2. Major Tetrachord (M) The major tetrachord is composed of two half steps, two half steps and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-2). Figure 1-2: Major Tetrachords.3. Minor Tetrachord (m) The minor tetrachord is composed of two half steps, one half step and two half steps ascending on four successive scale degrees (Figure 1-3). Figure 1-3: Minor Tetrachords.4. Natural Tetrachord (N) The natural tetrachord is composed of one half step, two half steps and two half steps ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-4). Figure 1-4: Natural Tetrachords. 5. Harmonic Tetrachord (H) The harmonic tetrachord is composed of one half step, three half steps, and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-5).Figure 1-5: Harmonic Tetrachords.6. Scale construction using Tetrachordsa. Scales constructed with tetrachords combine two tetrachords and a link (abbreviated L). The link is always composed of two half steps (a whole step) on adjacent staff degrees. The link may be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the scale. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave (Figure 1-6). Figure 1-6: Tetrachords and Link in Scale Construction. b. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave. An octave is an interval containing twelve half steps. It is the distance from one pitch to the next higher or lower pitch with the same letter name C-C (Figure 1-7). Figure 1-7:Octave on a Piano Keyboard.
Figure 1 1: Whole Steps and Half Steps.
PART A TETRACHORDS1. Tetrachord Structurea. A tetrachord is a series of four tones on successive degrees of the staff with an interval of five half steps between the first and last tones. The tetrachord is used in constructing and analyzing.b. Tetrachords used are the major (M), minor (m), natural (N), and harmonic (H). Any tetrachord may be constructed on any pitch and will retain the interval relationship of the tetrachord.2. Major Tetrachord (M) The major tetrachord is composed of two half steps, two half steps and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-2). Figure 1-2: Major Tetrachords.3. Minor Tetrachord (m) The minor tetrachord is composed of two half steps, one half step and two half steps ascending on four successive scale degrees (Figure 1-3). Figure 1-3: Minor Tetrachords.4. Natural Tetrachord (N) The natural tetrachord is composed of one half step, two half steps and two half steps ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-4). Figure 1-4: Natural Tetrachords. 5. Harmonic Tetrachord (H) The harmonic tetrachord is composed of one half step, three half steps, and one half step ascending on four successive staff degrees (Figure 1-5).Figure 1-5: Harmonic Tetrachords.6. Scale construction using Tetrachordsa. Scales constructed with tetrachords combine two tetrachords and a link (abbreviated L). The link is always composed of two half steps (a whole step) on adjacent staff degrees. The link may be placed at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of the scale. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave (Figure 1-6). Figure 1-6: Tetrachords and Link in Scale Construction. b. The combination of two tetrachords and a link form a scale that encompasses an octave. An octave is an interval containing twelve half steps. It is the distance from one pitch to the next higher or lower pitch with the same letter name C-C (Figure 1-7). Figure 1-7:Octave on a Piano Keyboard.