🎶 AP Music Theory

1.2

Rhythmic Values

1.3

Half Steps and Whole Steps

1.4

Major Scales and Scale Degrees

1.5

Major Keys and Key Signatures

1.6

Simple and Compound Beat Division

1.7

Meter and Time Signature

1.8

Rhythmic Patterns

1.9

Tempo

1.10

Dynamics and Articulation

Unit 2 – Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and Texture

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2.0

Unit 2 Overview: Music Fundamentals II (Minor Scales and Key Signatures, Melody, Timbre, and Texture)

12 min read

2.1

Minor Scales: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic

2.2

Relative Keys: Determining Relative Minor Key and Notating Key Signatures

2.3

Key Relationships: Parallel, Closely Related, and Distantly Related Keys

2.4

Other Scales: Chromatic, Whole-Tone, and Pentatonic

2.5

Interval Size and Quality

2.6

Interval Inversion and Compound Intervals

2.7

Transposing Instruments

2.8

Timbre

2.9

Melodic Features

2.10

Melodic Transposition

2.11

Texture and Texture Types

2.12

Texture Devices

2.13

Rhythmic Devices

Unit 3 – Triads and Seventh Chords

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3.0

Unit 3 Overview: Music Fundamentals III (Triads and Seventh Chords)

3.1

Triad and Chord Qualities (M, m, d, A)

3.2

Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals

3.3

Chord Inversions and Figures: Introduction to Figured Bass

3.4

Seventh Chords

3.5

Seventh Chord Inversions and Figures

Unit 4 – Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase

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4.0

Unit 4 Overview: Harmony and Voice Leading I (Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase)

4.1

Harmony and Voice Leading I

4.2

SATB Voice Leading

4.3

Harmonic Progression, Functional Harmony, and Cadences

4.4

Voice Leading with Seventh Chords

4.5

Voice Leading with Seventh Chords in Inversions

Unit 5 – Chord Progressions and Predominant Function

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5.0

Unit 5 Overview: Harmony and Voice Leading II (Chord Progressions and Predominant Function)

9 min read

5.1

Adding Predominant Function IV (iv) and ii (ii0) to a Melodic Phrase

5.2

The vi (VI) Chord

5.3

Predominant Seventh Chords

5.4

The iii (III) Chord

5.5

Cadences and Predominant Function

5.6

Cadential 6/4 Chords

5.7

Additional 6/4 chords

Unit 6 – Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices

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6.0

Unit 6 Overview: Harmony and Voice Leading III (Embellishments, Motives, and Melodic Devices)

11 min read

6.1

Embellishing Tones: Identifying Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones

6.2

Embellishing Tones: Writing Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones

6.3

Embellishing Tones: Identifying Anticipations, Escape Tones, Appoggiaturas, and Pedal Points

6.4

Embellishing Tones: Identifying and Writing Suspensions; Identifying Retardations

6.5

Motive and Motivic Transformation

6.6

Melodic Sequences

6.7

Harmonic Sequences

Unit 7 – Secondary Function

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7.0

Unit 7 Overview: Harmony and Voice Leading IV (Secondary Function)

7.1

Tonicization through Secondary Dominant Chords

7.2

Part Writing of Secondary Dominant Chords

7.3

Tonicization through Secondary Leading Tone Chords

7.4

Part Writing of Secondary Leading Tone Chords

Unit 8 – Modes and Form

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8.0

Unit 8 Overview: Modes and Form

8.1

Modes

8.2

Phrase Relationships

8.3

Common Formal Sections

Study Tools

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2024 AP Music Theory Exam Guide

9 min read

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is AP Music Theory Hard? Is AP Music Theory Worth Taking?

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How Do I Self-Study AP Music Theory?

What Are the Best AP Music Theory Textbooks and Prep Books?

3 min read

Exam Skills

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AP Music Theory Free Response Help - FRQ/LEQ

AP Music Theory Multiple Choice Help (MCQ)