Music Notes

Treble Notes

F A C E , E G B D F

Middle C is one line below the staff lines

Bass Notes

A C E G , G B D F A

Middle C is one line above the staff lines

Major Key Natural Scale

T T S T T T S

Minor Key Natural Scale

T S T T S T T

T: Tone/Whole, S: Semitone/Half

Chord Progressions

3 major chords and 1 minor chord

Chords (# of semitones between each note)

Position	Major	Minor	Diminished	Seventh	Suspended	Augmented
Root	0 3 2	0 2 3	0 2 2	0 3 2 2	0 4 1	0 3 3
First Inversion	0 2 4	0 3 4	0 2 5	0 2 2 1
Second Inversion	0 4 3	0 4 2	0 5 2	0 2 1 3
Third Inversion				0 1 3 2
Dominant				0 5 1

Scale Tone Chords

Scale Note	I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII
Chord Constructed	major	minor	minor	major	major	minor	dim	major

Chord Progressions

(pop) I V vi IV
vi IV I V
IV I V vi
I IV I V
(japan) IV V iii vi

How to Make Transitions

Change an instrument, but keep the melody
Switch from a major key to a relative minor key
Switch from a minor key to a relative major key
Change the content of some of the layers of music. Make sure to keep at least two layers consistent in order to keep contuity
Turn off some of the layers of music temporarily
The end of the current part shares notes with the beginning of the next part, creating a seamless but noticeable change
The background music becomes the foreground and vice versa

The basic rule of thumb: When making a transition, try to only change one thing at a time. (Any of these rules can be broken of course, but they should be broken knowingly and intentionally in order to be effective.)

Circle of Fifths

A circular chart laying out the relationships and sequence of various music keys

(via Matt Cullen Music)