What Might an Accidental Be Telling Us in a Piece of Music? - Music Theory

Music Matters

6 Feb 202015:31

EducationalLearning

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TLDRIn this video, Gareth explains what musical accidentals appearing during a piece may signify. Accidentals can indicate modulation to a new key; be chromatic non-chord tones adding color; reveal a minor key with raised scale degrees; or be part of specialized chords like diminished and Augmented sixths. Understanding their meaning aids analysis, performance and composition. Accidentals flag important harmonic events like modulations, color the music through chromaticism, bring out minor tonalities, and introduce complex chords, expanding compositional possibilities.

Takeaways

😀 Accidentals can indicate modulation - changing from one key to another
🎹 Accidentals can be chromatic inessential notes that add color
♭ Accidentals may show that the music is in a minor key
➕ Accidentals can be part of chromatic chords like diminished 7ths
🔑 Key signatures indicate the key at the start of a piece
🎼 Accidentals apply to the rest of the bar at the same pitch
📈 The melodic minor scale raises 6th and 7th notes upwards
📉 The melodic minor scale lowers 6th and 7th notes downwards
🎶 Accidentals add spice, color and interest to music
🤔 Analyzing accidentals helps understand and perform music

Q & A

What are accidentals in music?
-Accidentals are notes that are not part of the key signature. They can be sharps, flats, or naturals that are added to temporarily change the pitch.
What is modulation in music?
-Modulation refers to changing from one key to another within a piece of music. Accidentals may signify a modulation by taking away or adding sharps/flats to the key signature.
What are chromatic inessential notes?
-Chromatic inessential notes are notes that embellish the melody by using accidentals that don't belong to the key signature. Examples are chromatic passing tones, upper/lower auxiliary notes.
How can you identify if a piece is in a minor key?
-Accidentals that raise the 7th and 6th scale degrees, like F# and E natural in the key of G minor, indicate a minor key based on the harmonic/melodic minor scale.
What is a diminished 7th chord?
-A diminished 7th chord is made by taking the 7th chord in a key and adding a flattened/diminished 5th, like Bdim7 (B, D, F, Ab) in C major. The Ab accidental is used despite not belonging to C major.
What are augmented 6th chords?
-Augmented 6th chords like the German/French/Italian 6ths use accidentals to create dissonant chords that resolve in a certain way, often incorporating the flattened 6th scale degree.
What is a Neapolitan chord?
-A Neapolitan chord is a major chord built on the flattened 2nd scale degree, like Db major in C major. It uses chromatic accidentals but is still considered in the key.
Why use chromatic notes and chords?
-Composers use chromatic accidentals and chords to add color, tension, and interest to a piece. Otherwise staying strictly diatonic can sound boring.
How do accidentals affect musicians?
-When reading or analyzing sheet music, understanding what accidentals signify helps musicians interpret dynamics, emotion, and upcoming modulation. It also informs their technique.
How can composers use accidentals creatively?
-Knowing the purpose behind accidentals, composers can strategically incorporate them into their music for modulation, harmonic richness, dissonance, etc. to craft an expressive piece.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 What key signatures and accidentals indicate about a piece of music

Key signatures indicate the key a piece is written in, such as Eb major or C minor. Accidentals introduced during a piece can indicate modulation to a new key, the use of chromatic non-chord tones, a switch to a minor key, or the use of chromatic chords like diminished 7ths or Neapolitans.

05:03

👣 Accidentals showing modulation through a key change

Accidentals not belonging to the current key signature may indicate modulation, which adds interest by changing keys. For example, introducing an A natural while in Eb major with 3 flats signals a change to the dominant key of Bb major with 2 flats.

10:04

♯♭ Accidentals as chromatic non-chord tones

Accidentals may also indicate the use of chromatic passing or neighbor tones not belonging to the key signature. This adds color and interest. For example, using E# and Bb at times while in the key of D major.

15:06

🎼 Accidentals indicating minor key tonality

Accidentals may also establish a minor tonality, like raising the 7th scale degree from F to F# in G minor. Melodic minor accidentals like E naturals may also be seen, altered when ascending but not descending.

❔ What might an accidental be telling us?

Accidentals introduce different types of chromaticism and have varied meanings depending on context. Analyzing their usage helps understand what's happening in a piece regarding key, harmony, color, and modulation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡accidental

An accidental refers to a musical note that is not part of the key signature. It is used to temporarily raise or lower the pitch of a note. Accidentals are important in this video because the narrator is explaining what different accidentals might signify in a piece of music. For example, they could indicate a modulation (key change), use of chromatic notes, a switch to a minor key, or use of a chromatic chord.

💡modulation

Modulation refers to a change from one key to another within a piece of music. The narrator explains that accidentals during a piece may indicate that a modulation is happening. For example, changing from E-flat major to B-flat major by introducing an A-natural accidental.

💡chromatic

Chromatic notes or chords include pitches that are not diatonic to the key. Accidentals may be used to introduce more color through the use of chromatic inessential notes (notes that don't belong to the chord) or chromatic chords like diminished 7th and Neapolitan chords.

💡key signature

The key signature indicates the key a piece is in through the use of sharps or flats at the start. Accidentals during a piece add notes that are not already in the key signature, such as a B-flat accidental in the key of D major.

💡minor key

Accidentals may indicate a switch to a minor key, through raising certain degrees like the 7th in harmonic minor and 6th/7th in melodic minor. For example, F-sharps and E-naturals in this video reveal a shift to G minor.

💡inessential notes

Inessential notes like passing tones and auxiliary notes embellish the essential chord tones. Accidentals on inessential notes introduce more chromatic colors, like the E-sharp auxiliary note example.

💡diminished 7th

The diminished 7th chord outlined (B, D, F, Ab in C major) is an example of a chromatic chord commonly used for color in a key. Its functioning is not one of the main points about accidentals.

💡augmented 6th

Augmented 6th chords (e.g. German sixth in C major) are a type of chromatic chord that can be used to add interest and surprise in a key. Their appearance would not indicate modulation or change to minor key.

💡Neapolitan

The Neapolitan chord is built on the lowered 2nd degree of a major scale (e.g. Db major chord in C major). It is an example of a chromatic chord that adds color while remaining in the main key.

💡tonality

Tonality refers to the tonal center and whether a passage sounds major or minor. Accidentals may clearly establish a minor tonality, whereas lack of accidentals suggests major.

Highlights

Key signatures tell us the key a piece of music is in

Accidentals during a piece indicate modulation, changing from one key to another

Accidentals can be chromatic inessential notes that add color without changing the key

Accidentals may indicate a switch to a minor key by raising certain scale degrees

Diminished and augmented chords contain accidentals but stay in the main key

The Circle of Fifths shows key relationships and helps explain accidentals

Modulation via accidentals adds excitement by changing keys within a piece

Chromatic inessential notes like passing tones color melodies with accidentals

Raised 7th and 6th scale degrees in minor keys necessitate accidentals

Diminished 7ths and augmented 6ths are colorful chromatic chords

Neapolitan chords feature flattened scale degrees as accidentals

Analyzing accidentals helps understand what's happening in a piece of music

Knowing what accidentals indicate aids interpretation when playing

Composers use accidentals to add color and interest when writing music

Accidentals can indicate modulation, chromaticism, minor keys, or chromatic chords

Transcripts

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