Major Keys (Junior Cert Music): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
Major Keys
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Music with a major tonality is written in one of the major keys, using the notes from one of the major scales.
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A scale is a series of notes that move by step in ascending and descending order, following a specific pattern of tones and semitones.
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Interval: The distance between two notes.
What is a Major Key?
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Music with a major tonality is written in a major key.
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A major key uses notes from a major scale, which follows a specific pattern of tones (whole steps) and semitones (half steps).
- The pattern of tones (T) and semitones (S) in a major scale is: T – T – S – T – T – T – S
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Each major key is named after its first note, called the tonic (or keynote).
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The tonic is the home note where the scale begins and ends, giving the key its sense of stability.
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Music in that key feels finished and complete when it ends on this tonic note.