When you order the #1 combo at a fast food restaurant, what
food do you get?
A burger and curly fries? A taco and some chips? A chicken
sandwich and waffle fries?
That all depends on what restaurant you’re at.
Key Signature Menus
Musical keys are like restaurants. Each one serves something different. Some restaurants serve similar items, but every
place has something distinct about it.
Keys are the same way.
Every key serves something different.
Some keys have similar items, but every key has something distinct about
it.
What-A-Major
Consider the What-A-Major menu below.
If you order the #1 – the Tonic triad – you’ll get an A C# E, an A Major triad. This combo consists of the first, third, and fifth degrees in the A major scale, shown below the menu.
The #4 Subdominant combo comes with a D F# A, a D major triad.
What-A-Major Scale
If we go to a different restaurant/key and order a #1 Tonic
Combo, we will get something completely different.
B-Minor King
B-Minor King Scale
*In any minor key, there are alternative Harmonic and
Melodic forms of the sixth and seventh degrees, which gives you additional options
for the Subdominant, Dominant, Mediant, Submediant, and Subtonic triads.
You Can Create the
Menu
By memorizing the 15 major and 15 minor key signatures, you
can create the menu for any key signature.
By assembling the 7 to 9 pitches of any scale (including harmonic and melodic
alterations) in stacks of thirds, you can easily create every triad that
belongs to the key (diatonic triads).
Check out the full menus for What-A-Major and B-Minor King
below to see how it’s done.
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