Popular music is usually diatonic, which, technically speaking, means that its composition is within a major or minor key signature and doesn’t modulate. A key signature determines the set of pitches that match harmonically. Typically, a key signature involves three different pitches produced by simple formulas. To select the first formula, the user has to choose a note, as well as a minor or major. Once the process concludes, the user must follow a specific pattern of half-steps and whole-steps to choose the subsequent pitches.
Popular Music: Steps and Intervals
A half-step, also known as a semitone, involves a fret on a guitar or a note on a piano. A whole-step, also known as a whole tone, involves two frets on a guitar or two notes on a piano. There are several types of modes of the minor that follow different interval formulas. An interval involves a distance between notes you can measure either in half-steps or by scale degree. Octaves are the most common type of interval and they describe the doubling in frequency.
Scale
Each scale is unique and involves a specific number of flats or sharps. Each interval describes the same sound in a different setting. It’s essential for the user to use flats when there are flats in the key, and sharps when there are sharps in the key. The only exceptions are when there are chord alternations or when ascending or descending accidentals appear.
Chord
A chord is a synchronized performance of two or more notes. In particular, a diatonic chord is a one whose components exist within the key signature. A triad is a chord that involves three notes separated by thirds. Their function is determined by the quality of the interval between the notes in the triads. In addition, the function involves a major triad, a minor triad, a diminished triad, as well as an augmented triad.
Popular Music: Conclusion
These—steps, intervals, scales, and chords—are the basics of the composition of popular music. Of course this composition involves many more nuances, but these serve as a starting point for understanding.
