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AP Music Theory

Learn the fundamentals of music in unit 1 of the AP Music Theory course. Explore the basics of pitch, rhythm, and music notation; major scales, key signatures and scale degrees; and simple and compound time signatures. By learning these fundamental music skills, you will set yourself up for a successful year of music theory study! 

Unit 1 – Music Fundamentals I (Pitch, Major Scales and Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter, and Expressive Elements)

1.8 Rhythmic Patterns

1.6 Simple and Compound Beat Division

1.5 Major Keys and Key Signatures

1.4 Major Scales and Scale Degrees

1.7 Meter and Time Signature

1.2 Rhythmic Values

1.9 Tempo

1.10 Dynamics and Articulation

1.1 Pitch and Pitch Notation

1.3 Half Steps and Whole Steps

Unit 1 Overview: Pitch, Major Scales and Key Signatures, Rhythm, Meter, and Expressive Elements

Cover minor scales, key signatures, and scale degrees; melodic, whole tone, and pentatonic scales; interval size, quality, and inversions; melodic features and transposition; and texture and rhythmic devices. You will advance your music fundamentals with these AP Music Theory Unit 2 resources!

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

2.13 Rhythmic Devices

2.12 Texture Devices

2.10 Melodic Transposition

2.7 Transposing Instruments

2.11 Texture and Texture Types

2.5 Interval Size and Quality

2.2 Relative Keys: Determining Relative Minor Key and Notating Key Signatures

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

2.8 Timbre

2.4 Other Scales: Chromatic, Whole-Tone, and Pentatonic

2.6 Interval Inversion and Compound Intervals

2.9 Melodic Features

2.1 Minor Scales: Natural, Harmonic, and Melodic

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

Get a better understanding of unit 3 of AP Music Theory. This unit focuses on chords: triads and their qualities, diatonic chords and roman numerals notation, seventh chords, chord inversions, and figured bass. In this last part of music fundamentals, you will have all the tools in your music theory toolbox to ace the AP Music Theory exam! 

Unit 3 – Music Fundamentals III (Triads and Seventh Chords)

3.3 Chord Inversions and Figures: Introduction to Figured Bass

3.4 Seventh Chords

3.2 Diatonic Chords and Roman Numerals

3.5 Seventh Chord Inversions and Figures

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

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

Explore unit 4 of AP Music Theory with these resources. Learn how the building blocks of music work together to form harmonic progressions, functional harmonies, and cadences. This unit also covers SATB voice leading rules with triads, seventh chords, and inversions. This is all you need to ace the part-writing portion of the AP Music Theory exam!

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

4.1 Harmony and Voice Leading I

4.4 Voice Leading with Seventh Chords

4.2 SATB Voice Leading

4.5 Voice Leading with Seventh Chords in Inversions

4.3 Harmonic Progression, Functional Harmony, and Cadences

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

Check out these resources for unit 5 of AP Music Theory. We cover chord progressions, with examples and explanations, along with the process of harmony, and how to effectively voice lead (don't worry it's not that scary). These resources will make sure that you understand this unit!

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

5.6 Cadential 6/4 Chords

5.3 Predominant Seventh Chords

5.5 Cadences and Predominant Function

5.7 Additional 6/4 chords

5.4 The iii (III) Chord

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

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

5.2 The vi (VI) Chord

Want to learn about harmonies? Well, discover all about them in unit 6 of AP Music Theory! These resources cover more details about harmonies and voice leading, while also diving into melodic devices and choices, and the importance of motive and embellishment.

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

6.6 Melodic Sequences

6.7 Harmonic Sequences 

6.2 Embellishing Tones: Writing Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones

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

6.4 Embellishing Tones: Identifying and Writing Suspensions; Identifying Retardations

6.1 Embellishing Tones: Identifying Passing Tones and Neighbor Tones

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

6.5 Motive and Motivic Transformation

Take a look at these resources to help you understand unit 7 of AP Music Theory with these resources. We continue to cover harmonies and voice leading with harmonic dictations, secondary chords, tonicization, tone chords and writing tone chords. These resources will help you understand AP Music Theory!

Unit 7 – Harmony and Voice Leading IV (Secondary Function)

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

7.4 Part Writing of Secondary Leading Tone Chords

7.2 Part Writing of Secondary Dominant Chords

7.1 Tonicization through Secondary Dominant Chords

7.3 Tonicization through Secondary Leading Tone Chords

Everything you need to know about unit 8 of AP Music Theory can be found using these resources. These resources cover modes and forms, along with phase relationships and their importance and common formal sections to make sure you understand unit 8 of AP Music Theory!

Unit 8 – Modes & Form

Unit 8 Overview: Modes and Form

8.2 Phrase Relationships 

8.1 Modes

8.3 Common Formal Sections

Frequently Asked Questions

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Learn all about the AP Music Theory exam: MCQs with and without aural stimuli, and all the FRQs, including melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, figured bass, part-writing, harmonizing a melody, and sight singing. We review logistics, useful strategies, and helpful tips so you'll be attuned to all the little details on the exam!

AP Music Theory Practice Questions (MCQ): 🎹 Unit 4 – Harmony and Voice Leading I (Chord Function, Cadence, and Phrase): 4.3 Harmonic Progression, Functional Harmony, and Cadences

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