1. Melodic, Harmonic, and Rhythmic Dictation
  2. Module 6: Triads

Module 6: Triads

Triads are three-note chords that contain the following characteristics:

  1. Root: the lowest pitch of the triad when spelled in its most compact position
  2. Quality: the specific sound of the triad (major, minor, diminished, or augmented)
  3. Inversion: an expression of which member of the triad (root, third, or fifth) is the lowest in the texture
  4. Ordering and Voicing: the specific way that the triad is presented.

Triads are one of the foundational building blocks of tonal music. You will most likely be required to learn the unique sound of each triad quality to be able to sing and recognize them individually and in the music that you hear.

a. Hearing and Singing Acontextual Triads

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b. Root Position Major Triads

Melody 6-b1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 10
  3. The pitch pattern is in the key of C major. The first pitch is second space C in the bass clef. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_6-b1a

Melody 6-b2

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-b2b
  5. The key signature is B major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, B below middle C.
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-b2a

Melody 6-b3

  1. Listennto the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 7
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-b3b
  5. The key signature is G-flat major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, B-flat second line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-b3a

Melody 6-b4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-b4b
  5. The key signature is B-flat major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, B-flat second line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-b4a

Melody 6-b5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8, quarter note anacrusis
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-b5b
  5. The key signature is D major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, A fifth line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-b5a

Harmonic Progression 6b-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of C Major and consists of 7 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6b-1

Harmonic Progression 6b-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of F Major and consists of 7 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6b-2

c. Root Position Minor Triads

Melody 6-c1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 10
  3. The pitch pattern is in the key of D major. The first pitch is second space F# in the treble clef. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_6-c1a

Melody 6-c2

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 9
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-c2b
  5. The key signature is F-sharp Minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, F-sharp first space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-c2a

Melody 6-c3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-c3b
  5. The key signature is A Minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, A first space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-c3a

Melody 6-c4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-c4b
  5. The key signature is E Minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, E third space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-c4a

Melody 6-c5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-c5b
  5. The key signature is G Minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, G second line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-c5a

Harmonic Progression 6c-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of G Major and consists of 8 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6c-1

Harmonic Progression 6c-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of D Minor and consists of 8 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6c-2

d. Inverted Major and Minor Triads

Melody 6-d1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 10
  3. The pitch pattern is in the key of F major. The first pitch is fourth line F in the bass clef. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_6-d1a

Melody 6-d2

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-d2b
  5. The key signature is E Minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, G fourth space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-d2a

Melody 6-d3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-d3b
  5. The key signature is B Minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, B second line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-d3a

Melody 6-d4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-d4b
  5. The key signature is D-flat Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, F first space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-d4a

Melody 6-d5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 9/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-d5b
  5. The key signature is E-flat Major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, G second line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-d5a

Harmonic Progression 6d-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of B-flat Major and consists of 8 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6d-1

Harmonic Progression 6d-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of D Major and consists of 9 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6d-2

Harmonic Progression 6d-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of C Minor and consists of 9 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6d-3

Harmonic Progression 6d-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of G Minor and consists of 7 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6d-4

e. Diminished Triads

Melody 6-e1

  1. Listen to the following pitch pattern.
  2. Listen to the pitch pattern again. Determine the number of pitches.
    3. 10
  3. The pitch pattern is in the key of E-flat major. The first pitch is first line E-flat in the treble clef. Listen and notate the pitch pattern.
    4. Melody_6-e1a

Melody 6-e2

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-e2b
  5. The key signature is A major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, C-sharp second space
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-e2a

Melody 6-e3

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-e3b
  5. The key signature is D minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Bass clef, A fifth line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-e3a

Melody 6-e4

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-e4b
  5. The key signature is G minor. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, G second line
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-e4a

Melody 6-e5

  1. Listen to the following melody.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the melody again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm above the staff.
    5. Melody_6-e5b
  5. The key signature is A-flat major. Determine the clef and starting pitch.
    6. Treble clef, C third space.
  6. Listen again. Notate the melody.
    7. Melody_6-e5a

Harmonic Progression 6e-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of A Major and consists of 8 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6e-1

Harmonic Progression 6e-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm Harmonic 5d-2.mp3
  2. The progression is in the key of E-flat Major and consists of 6 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6e-2

Harmonic Progression 6e-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of A Minor and consists of 7 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6e-3

Harmonic Progression 6e-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. The progression is in the key of E Minor and consists of 6 chords. Listen to the progression, then write the soprano line, the bass line, and provide a Roman numeral analysis.
    3. Harmonic_6e-4
  1. Begin by taking a rhythmic dictation of your melody (see steps above). Figure out where things happen before you try to figure out what happens.
  2. Listen for and identify the tonic. If the melody modulates, listen for indications of each tonal area (usually you can listen for dominant sounds).
  3. Identify important scale degrees along the way by writing their numbers above the notes on your rhythmic dictation. Mark chromatic notes. These may include longer notes, notes on cadences, the first note, the last note, etc. Be sure to listen to pitches as scale degrees, using your scale degree patterns to verify what you think you hear.
  4. Listen for how the “important” scale degrees (from step 3 above) are approached and left. Listen also for groups of notes that form identifiable structures such as triads, seventh chords, etc.
  5. Once you have labeled your rhythm with scale degrees, transcribe this into standard notation on a staff.
  6. Double check your answer by singing what you have written and comparing it to what you remember.
  1. Begin by taking a rhythmic dictation for the melody as described above.
  2. Listen for repeating pitches or pitches that are close to known pitches, even if (especially if) they are separated by only a few pitches. Listen for embedded chromatic lines in the melody.
  3. Listen for characteristic intervals. For example, many melodies will use a particular interval repeatedly. Try to find all instances of that interval wherever it occurs.