Tetrachords and the Major and 3 Minor Scales

Question 1

Define tetrachord

Answer 1

A tetrachord is a unit comprised of 4 consecutive notes, which span the interval of a fourth

Question 2

Determine what 3 intervals a major tetrachord comprises; whole step (W) or half step (H)

Answer 2

W - W - H

Question 3

Determine what 3 intervals a minor tetrachord comprises; whole step (W) or half step (H)

Answer 3

W - H - W

Question 4

Determine what 3 intervals a natural tetrachord comprises; whole step (W) or half step (H)

Answer 4

H - W - W

Question 5

Determine what 3 intervals a harmonic tetrachord comprises; whole step (W) or half step (H)

Answer 5

H - WH - H

Question 6

• Determine between which scale degrees half steps occur in a major scale
• Determine which two tetrachords make up a major scale

Answer 6

• Half steps occur between scale degrees 3 - 4 and 7 - 1
• major tetrachord + major tetrachord

Question 7

Determine the three forms of the minor scale

Answer 7

Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic

Question 8

• Determine between which scale degrees half steps occur in a natural minor scale
• Determine which two tetrachords make up a natural minor tetrachord

Answer 8

• Half steps occur between scale degrees 2 - 3 and 5 - 6
• minor tetrachord + natural tetrachord

Question 9

• Determine between which scale degrees half steps occur in a melodic minor scale.
• Determine which scale degrees are raised in the ascending **melodic minor scale. **
• Determine which scale degrees are lowered to their natural state in the descending melodic minor scale
• Determine which two tetrachords make up a melodic minor scale

Answer 9

• Half steps occur between scale degrees 2 - 3 and 7 - 8.
• The raised scale degrees are scale degrees 6 and 7 in the ascending scale.
• Scale degrees 6 and 7 are lowered to their natural state in the descending scale
• minor tetrachord + major tetrachord

Question 10

• Determine between which scale degrees half steps occur in a harmonic minor scale.
• Determine between which scale degrees there is an augmented second (A2) in a harmonic minor scale
• Determine which two tetrachords make up a harmonic minor scale

Answer 10

• Half steps occur between scale degrees 2 - 3, 5 - 6, and 7 - 8.
• The augmented second is between scale degrees 6 - 7
• minor tetrachord + harmonic tetrachord