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Music Theory Cheatsheet

Comprehensive music theory reference chart

12 reference sections across 4 topics

Harmony & Chords
Scales & Modes
Rhythm & Notation
Expression & Symbols
Harmony & Chords
Building Chords
Major

Major

1, 3, 5

6

1, 3, 5, 6

7

1, 3, 5, 7

9

1, 3, 5, 7, 9

11

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11

13

1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13
Minor

Minor

1, b3, 5

6

1, b3, 5, 6

7

1, b3, 5, b7

(7)

1, b3, 5, 7

9

1, b3, 5, b7, 9

11

1, b3, 5, b7, 9, 11
Dominant

7

1, 3, 5, b7

9

1, 3, 5, b7, 9

11

1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 11

13

1, 3, 5, b7, 9, 11, 13

7 Sus 4

1, 4, 5, b7
Suspended

Sus 2

1, 2, 5

Sus 4

1, 4, 5
Dim / Aug

Diminished

1, b3, b5

Diminished 7

1, b3, b5, bb7

Half Diminished 7

1, b3, b5, b7

Augmented

1, 3, #5

Augmented 7

1, 3, #5, b7
Circle of Fifths & Key Signatures
C—G1♯D2♯A3♯E4♯B5♯F#6♯C#7♯Ab4♭Eb3♭Bb2♭F1♭AmEmBmF#mC#mG#mD#mA#mFmCmGmDmMAJORminor
Major
Minor
Key Signatures
MajorRelative Minor♯ / ♭Signature
CAm——
GEm1♯#
DBm2♯##
AF#m3♯###
EC#m4♯####
BG#m5♯#####
F#D#m6♯######
C#A#m7♯#######
GbEbm6♭bbbbbb
DbBbm5♭bbbbb
AbFm4♭bbbb
EbCm3♭bbb
BbGm2♭bb
FDm1♭b
How to Read
→ Clockwise = up a 5th (sharps)← Counter-clockwise = up a 4th (flats)Inner ring = relative minor keyAdjacent keys = closely related
Enharmonic Keys
B = C♭ (5♯ = 7♭)F♯ = G♭ (6♯ = 6♭)C♯ = D♭ (7♯ = 5♭)Same sound, different spelling
Major Key Chords
IMajor
iiMinor
iiiMinor
IVMajor
VMajor
viMinor
vii°Dim
IiiiiiIVVvivii°
CCDmEmFGAmBdim
C#C#D#mE#mF#G#A#mB#dim
DbDbEbmFmGbAbBbmCdim
DDEmF#mGABmC#dim
EbEbFmGmAbBbCmDdim
EEF#mG#mABC#mD#dim
FFGmAmBbCDmEdim
F#F#G#mA#mBC#D#mE#dim
GbGbAbmBbmCbDbEbmFdim
GGAmBmCDEmF#dim
G#G#A#mB#mC#D#E#mF##dim
AbAbBbmCmDbEbFmGdim
AABmC#mDEF#mG#dim
A#A#B#mC##mD#E#F##mG##dim
BbBbCmDmEbFGmAdim
BBC#mD#mEF#G#mA#dim
Minor Key Chords
iMinor
ii°Dim
IIIMajor
ivMinor
vMinor
VIMajor
VIIMajor
iii°IIIivvVIVII
CCmDdimEbFmGmAbBb
C#C#mD#dimEF#mG#mAB
DbDbmEbdimFbGbmAbmBbbCb
DDmEdimFGmAmBbC
EbEbmFdimGbAbmBbmCbDb
EEmF#dimGAmBmCD
FFmGdimAbBbmCmDbEb
F#F#mG#dimABmC#mDE
GbGbmAbdimBbbCbmDbmEbbFb
GGmAdimBbCmDmEbF
G#G#mA#dimBC#mD#mEF#
AbAbmBbdimCbDbmEbmFbGb
AAmBdimCDmEmFG
A#A#mB#dimC#D#mE#mF#G#
BbBbmCdimDbEbmFmGbAb
BBmC#dimDEmF#mGA
Scales & Modes
Scales Reference
NameStep SequenceExample (C)

Major

W-W-H-W-W-WC D E F G A B

Natural minor

W-H-W-W-H-WC D Eb F G Ab Bb

Harmonic minor

W-H-W-W-H-W+HC D Eb F G Ab B

Melodic minor

W-H-W-W-W-WC D Eb F G A B

Major pentatonic

W-W-W+H-WC D E G A

Minor pentatonic

W+H-W-W-W+HC Eb F G Bb

Blues

W+H-W-H-H-W+HC Eb F Gb G Bb
Modes Reference
TonicNameStep SequenceExample (C)
I

Ionian

W-W-H-W-W-WC D E F G A B
II

Dorian

W-H-W-W-W-HC D Eb F G A Bb
III

Phrygian

H-W-W-W-H-WC Db Eb F G Ab Bb
IV

Lydian

W-W-W-H-W-WC D E F# G A B
V

Mixolydian

W-W-H-W-W-HC D E F G A Bb
VI

Aeolian

W-H-W-W-H-WC D Eb F G Ab Bb
VII

Locrian

H-W-W-H-W-WC Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
Rhythm & Notation
Note Values & Rhythm Tree
WholeHalfQuarterEighthSixteenth
NoteSymbolRestBeats (4/4)Dotted

Whole

46

Half

23

Quarter

11.5

Eighth

0.50.75

Sixteenth

0.250.375
Time Signatures
Sig.TypeBeatsBeat PatternGenre / Feel

2/4

Simple2
March, Polka

3/4

Simple3
Waltz

4/4

Simple4
Pop, Rock, Most music

2/2

Simple2
Cut time, March

6/8

Compound2 groups of 3
Jig, Ballad

9/8

Compound3 groups of 3
Slip jig

12/8

Compound4 groups of 3
Blues shuffle, Slow blues

5/4

Irregular5 (3+2 or 2+3)
Take Five, Film scores

7/8

Irregular7 (2+2+3 or 3+2+2)
Balkan, Prog rock
Strong
Medium
Weak
Sight Reading Chart
𝄞CDEFGABCDEFGA
Expression & Symbols
Dynamic Markings

ppp

Pianississimo

As soft as possible

MIDI 16

pp

Pianissimo

Very soft

MIDI 33

p

Piano

Soft

MIDI 49

mp

Mezzo-piano

Moderately soft

MIDI 64

mf

Mezzo-forte

Moderately loud

MIDI 80

f

Forte

Loud

MIDI 96

ff

Fortissimo

Very loud

MIDI 112

fff

Fortississimo

As loud as possible

MIDI 127

Gradual Changes

Crescendocresc.

Gradually louder

Decrescendodecresc. / dim.

Gradually softer

Accent & Expression

sfz

Sforzando— Sudden strong accent

fp

Forte-piano— Loud then immediately soft

rfz

Rinforzando— Reinforced accent

fz

Forzando— Forced, accented
Tempo Markings

Grave

Largo

Adagio

Andante

Moderato

Allegro

Vivace

Presto

Prestissimo

TermBPMMeaning

Grave

20–40Very slow, solemn

Largo

40–60Slow and broad

Adagio

60–76Slow, at ease

Andante

76–108Walking pace

Moderato

108–120Moderate

Allegro

120–156Fast, lively

Vivace

156–176Lively, brisk

Presto

176–200Very fast

Prestissimo

200–300As fast as possible
Musical Symbols
Clefs

𝄞

Treble Clef

𝄢

Bass Clef

𝄡

Alto Clef
Accidentals

♯

Sharp

♭

Flat

♮

Natural

×

Double Sharp

♭♭

Double Flat
Repeats & Navigation

‖:

Repeat Start

:‖

Repeat End

D.S.

Dal Segno

D.C.

Da Capo

⊕

Coda

𝕊

Segno
Articulation

•

Staccato

–

Tenuto

>

Accent

^

Marcato

◠

Fermata
Ornaments

tr

Trill

~

Mordent

∽

Turn

♪

Grace Note