G DeBenedettiwww.gmajormusictheory.org

&#Pathways to HarmonyChapter 4: Half and whole steps,

major scales and the circle of fifths

4.1 Half steps and whole steps

&#

• A half step is the closest possible distance between two notes. There are no notes on the keyboard between notes which are separated by a half step.

&#

• A half step is the closest possible distance between two notes. There are no notes on the keyboard between notes which are separated by a half step.

• A whole step is a distance between two notes such that there is one and only one note on the keyboard between those two notes.

&#

• A half step is the closest possible distance between two notes. There are no notes on the keyboard between notes which are separated by a half step.

• A whole step is a distance between two notes such that there is one and only one note on the keyboard between those two notes

• So a whole step is the same distance as two half steps.

&#

Distinguishing half and whole steps aurally

• PLAY some examples of half steps:

&#

Distinguishing half and whole steps aurally

• PLAY some examples of half steps:• Now PLAY some whole steps:

&#

Distinguishing half and whole steps aurally

• PLAY some examples of half steps:• Now PLAY some whole steps:• GET a piece of paper

– NUMBER the paper from 1 to 5

&#

Distinguishing half and whole steps aurally

• PLAY some examples of half steps:• Now PLAY some whole steps:• GET a piece of paper

– NUMBER the paper from 1 to 5– PLAY this series of five half and whole steps: – And WRITE DOWN, for each pair of notes, H

if you hear a half step, and W if you hear a whole step.

&#

Your answers should be:

1. H

2. W

3. W

4. H

5. W

Where H = half step and W = whole step

&#

Half and whole steps in "real" music

• PLAY some excerpts which end with half steps– Ascending half step in Handel's "Hallelujah" Chorus

&#

Half and whole steps in "real" music

• PLAY some excerpts which end with half steps– Ascending half step in Handel's "Hallelujah" Chorus– Descending half step in Beethoven's "Pathetique"

Sonata

&#

Half and whole steps in "real" music

• PLAY some excerpts which end with half steps– Ascending half step in Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus– Descending half step in Beethoven's "Pathetique"

Sonata

• PLAY some excerpts which end with whole steps– Ascending whole step in Pachabel's "Canon in D"

&#

Half and whole steps in "real" music

• PLAY some excerpts which end with half steps– Ascending half step in Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus– Descending half step in Beethoven's "Pathetique"

Sonata

• PLAY some excerpts which end with whole steps– Ascending whole step in Pachabel's "Canon in D"– Descending whole step in Bach's "Air" in D

&#

Distinguishing half and whole steps in "real" music

• USE the same piece of paper from the previous half and whole step quiz, or GET a new piece– NUMBER from 1 to 5 again

&#

Distinguishing half and whole steps in "real" music

• USE the same piece of paper from the previous half and whole step quiz, or GET a new piece– NUMBER from 1 to 5 again– PLAY these five excerpts:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

– And WRITE DOWN whether each one ends with a half or whole step

&#

Your answers should be:

1. W

2. W

3. H

4. H

5. W

Where H = half step and W = whole step

&#

• The staff does not show half step and whole step relationships. See the illustration above.

&#

• The staff does not show half step and whole step relationships. See the illustration above.

• To find half steps and whole steps on the staff, always refer to the keyboard.

&#

• The staff does not show half step and whole step relationships. See the illustration above.

• To find half steps and whole steps on the staff, always refer to the keyboard.

– One note in between on the keyboard means whole step

– No notes in between on the keyboard means half step

WH

&#

• In written music, remember that a sharp or flat applies not only to the note next to it; but also to all the following notes of the same letter name in that measure.

&#

• In written music, remember that a sharp or flat applies not only to the note next to it; but also to all the following notes of the same letter name in that measure.

• PLAY the above phrase

• Notice that all the F's are played as F#'s, even the last one which has no sharp next to it.

&#

Your turn• DOWNDLOAD Chapter Four OR Expanded Chapter Four

of Pathways to Harmony from this website http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Fundamentals/workbooks.html

• DO worksheets to 4.1 to 4.3 from Chapter Four OR worksheets 4Ex.1 to 4Ex.5 from Expanded Chapter Four