BERKLEE Introduction to Music Theory

ONLINE Lesson 6 Study Guide

F and G Major Scale

The F major scale has a B flat:

w w w w
& w w w bw
Note Names: F G A Bb C D E F
Scale Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

Bb

F G A C D E F
{
{
{
{
{
W W H W W W H
Fingering: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

w
The G major scale has a F sharp:

w w w w #w
& w w
Note Names: G A B C D E F# G
Scale Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

F#

G A B C D E G
{
{
{
{
{

W W H W W W H
Fingering: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
 2.
BERKLEE Introduction to Music Theory
ONLINE Lesson 6 Study Guide

F Major and Minor Triads

& w
[w
w b[ www
F Major Triad F Minor Triad

] minor 3rd ] Major 3rd

P5 ] Major 3rd P5 ] minor 3rd

Here is the F major triad one note at a time:

bw wC w w w
& w w w
F A

major 3rd minor 3rd

F A C

Here is the F minor triad one note at a time:

b w w
& w bw bw wC w
w
F A

minor 3rd major 3rd

Ab

F C
 3.
BERKLEE Introduction to Music Theory
ONLINE Lesson 6 Study Guide

F Major Triads of I, IV, V

www www
Here are the triads of the F Major scale with the major triads and functions highlighted:

ww w ww www
& ww
w bwww w bww w
I IV V I
Tonic Subdominant Dominant Tonic

Here are the major triads on the keyboard:

Bb

F G A C D E F G

I IV V
 4.
BERKLEE Introduction to Music Theory
ONLINE Lesson 6 Study Guide

G Major and Minor Triads

w
& [ ww [ w
b w
w
G Major Triad G Minor Triad

] minor 3rd ] Major 3rd

P5 ] Major 3rd P5 ] minor 3rd

Here is the G major triad one note at a time:

w wD w w# w
& w w w
G B

major 3rd minor 3rd

G B D

Here is the G minor triad one note at a time:

Bb
w wD w w# w
& w w bw
G

minor 3rd major 3rd

Bb

G D
 5.
BERKLEE Introduction to Music Theory
ONLINE Lesson 6 Study Guide

G Major Triads of I, IV, V

w ww
Here are the triads of the G Major scale with the major triads and functions highlighted:

ww w ww w
#w ww #w
w w
ww w
#w
w w w w
& w
I IV V I
Tonic Subdominant Dominant Tonic

Here are the major triads on the keyboard:

F#

G A B C D E G A

I IV V
 6.
BERKLEE Introduction to Music Theory
ONLINE Lesson 6 Study Guide

12-Bar Riff Blues

To play a riff blues:

C7 C7 C7 C7
& 44 Melody ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’
Bars 1-2: play a melody using the C Bars 3-4: rest two bars—no melody, just
minor pentatonic scale for two bars the chords will play

5 F7 F7 C7 C7
& Melody ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’
Bars 5-6: repeat the same melody you Bars 7-8: rest two bars again—no melody,
played from the first two bars just the chords will play

9 G7 F7 C7 C7
& Varied Melody ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’ ’
Bars 9-10: vary the melody by changing it Bars 11-12: rest two bars again—no melody,
up a little bit just the chords will play
 7.
BERKLEE Introduction to Music Theory
ONLINE Lesson 6 Study Guide

The Minor Pentatonic Scale

The minor pentatonic scale is used for creating melodies and for improvising over a
pre-existing chord progression.

The minor pentatonic scale is based on these five notes from the major scale.

& w w w w w
w w w
Note Names: C D E F G A B C
Scale Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

The minor pentatonic scale has a flat 3rd and 7th.

& w bw w
w bw w
Eb Bb
b3 b7
Note Names: C F G C
Scale Degrees: 1 4 5 1

Here is the C minor pentatonic scale on the keyboard:

Eb Bb

C F G C

Fingerings: 1 3 1 2 4 5
= Middle C