Theory Study

Compiled ABRSM Grades 1-5 exam materials covering notes, rhythm, scales, chords and all major exam topics for easy reference and efficient preparation.

Contents

1. Note Values 2. Bars and Time Signatures 3. Pitch Names 4. Staves and Clefs 5. Staff Notation 6. Ledger Lines 7. Sharps, Flats, and Naturals 8. Semitones, Whole Tones, and the C Major Scale 9. G Major, D Major, and F Major Scales 10. Rests 11. Ties and Dots 12. Tonality and Key Signatures 13. Accidentals 14. Scale Degrees 15. Tonic Chords 16. Intervals 17. Beaming Notes within a Bar 18. Performance Directions

ABRSM Grade 1 Knowledge Points

Knowledge Point 16: Intervals

"Semitone" and "whole tone" are used to describe adjacent notes on a keyboard. But intervals can also be expressed using numbers, so that you can describe the interval between any two notes. The "number" of an interval is in fact the number of scale degrees it contains — we can also describe it as the total number of letter names included.Figure 47:

Two letter names make a 2nd

Three letter names make a 3rd

Four letter names make a 4th

Five letter names make a 5th; and so on

Figure 47: Illustration

In Grade 1, the lower note of an interval is always the tonic of one of the scales you have learned (C, G, D or F). So, for example, if the higher note is the 5th degree, then the interval is a 5th. The Grade 1 exam only includes intervals of an octave or less. Figure 48 shows all the intervals in the Grade 1 course, displayed using the treble clef:

C major

G major

D major

F major

Figure 48: Illustration

If the two notes of an interval are played at the same time, this is a "harmonic" interval. If the two notes are played one after the other, it is a "melodic" interval. As shown in Figure 49:

Figure 49: Illustration

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