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Music Theory Application

Instruction Manual

By Sierra K. Schmidt

December 27, 2025

Version for Application

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Welcome to the Music Theory Application. The Music Theory Application is a set of applications designed principally for teachers and students of music theory. The intent is to make teaching and learning music theory concepts more efficient. The Music Theory Application is also useful for many music composers.

The music theory concepts included in the application include:

  1. Chord identification and characterization
  2. Voice leading rules checking
  3. Chord Progression Builder
  4. Composition Analysis
  5. Exploration of Music Sequences
  6. Exploration of Musical Forms
  7. Exploration of Musical Scale Collections
  8. 12 x 12 Serialism matrix creation
  9. Pitch Detector

The Music Theory Application also includes a set of useful music theory figures, including circle of fifths, pitch-class clock face, intervals, music keys, figured bass, and symbol characters.

The Music Theory Application is accessible in Spanish by clicking the language toggle. This instruction manual is not yet translated.

Shown above is a QR code and link to Sierra’s Music Theory Application (sierrasmusictheory.lovable.app.) User may request an access code from Sierra Schmidt at sierra@sierramusicacademy.com. Sierra is a musician in Arizona and Utah.

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The OBJECTIVES of the Music Theory Application are to accelerate the teaching and learning of music theory and analysis of music passages plus to enable more efficient music composition. This Music Theory Application reduces the amount of information that must be looked up in textbooks or committed to memory. Some of the tools work as a musical calculator. The Music Theory Application helps students master music theory and helps composers write better music.

BACKGROUND: Music analysis and composition are time-consuming. Mastering music theory concepts can take several semesters due to long, complex analysis and cumbersome textbook searches for music rules. Mastery can be achieved faster with technology, much as mastering higher mathematics is accomplished faster with a calculator once the basic mathematical concepts are learned. Additionally, Immediate feedback is important for skill development, yet traditional methods require waiting for instructor grading, slowing the learning process.

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Table of Contents

Page

Chord Identifier 5

Voice Leading Rules Checker 15

Chord Progression Builder 22

Composition Analysis 26

Music Sequences 30

Musical Form 33

Scale Collections 37

12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator 51

Pitch Detector 56

Appendix 1: Useful Music Theory Aids 60

Appendix 2: ChatGPT Output 68

Appendix 3: AI Task Timetable (separate .pdf)

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Chord Identifier

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Chord Identifier

Purpose

A common task for composers, students, and teachers of tonal music is to analyze a passage of music and identify the musical key, chords, lead sheet symbols, Roman numerals, and other characteristics. Additionally, music composers write melodies and chord accompaniments in tonal harmonies.

The Chord Identifier automatically identifies the possible musical keys, chords, and chord characteristics within or for a new passage of music. The Chord Identifier makes writing music and grading student work on music analysis more efficient.

The user enters up to four notes in a chord into the Chord Identifier. The user can enter the musical key if known. The tool automatically compares the notes to a database of all tonal keys (one major and three minor keys) and the majority of associated musical chords, including the inversion. The Chord Identifier then immediately presents the user with options for what the musical key is (if not given by user) plus chord characteristics and names.

The Chord Identifier identifies, these chord characteristics are presented: Roman numeral, figured bass, scale degree, chord quality, lead sheet symbol, and any special comments about the chord, such as typical chord progressions or naming.

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Chord Identifier

Design

The Chord Identifier is an application that is best used on a laptop or desktop computer for ease of user-input.

The user does not need to input the musical key, but if the user does know the key, the tool’s responses will be narrowed down.

A user enters the bass note plus 1, 2 or 3 higher music notes at a time with the Chord Identifier. The user must enter the bass note in the bass position in the input section for the tool to properly identify the chord inversion. The other notes can be entered in any order above the bass.

The Chord Identifier automatically compares the user’s entered notes, in all permutations of the bass note with the other entered note(s), against a large database to identify the possible key and chord that associated with the selected bass note plus 1 to 3 additional notes. If the user doubles a note in the entered chord, the Chord Identifier will first check if the entered chord with the doubled note exists in the database, such as the Italian augmented 6th chord. If the tool does not find a chord in the database with a doubled note, the Chord Identifier will deduplicate the note and then search for existing chords.

The Chord Identifier then immediately displays the possible matches of key and chords (up to 7th chords) to the user just below the inputted notes. If the user enters only the bass note plus one higher note, the number of possible answers of keys and chords is much higher. The more notes the user enters, the fewer possibilities the Chord Identifier will display.

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Chord Identifier

Basis

  1. Tonal Harmony: The Key and Chord Identifier is based on tonal harmony, meaning it applies to music that is made up of a collection of notes, called a scale, that is centered on a tonic pitch. Major scales and minor scales exist. Each scale is made up of each of the seven note letter names (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G), where some scales use sharps and some scales use flats. In tonal harmony, major scales have these set spacings between the notes: whole tone (W), whole tone (W), semitone (S), whole tone (W), whole tone (W), whole tone (W), or W-W-S-W-W-W. In tonal harmony, natural minor scales have these set spacing between the notes: W-S-W-W-S-W-W.
  2. All twelve major scales and most of the known associated chords within those major scales are included in the database. That database is automatically searched when a user enters a bass note and 1, 2, or 3 higher notes.
  3. All thirty six minor scales and most of the known associated chords within those major scales are included in the database. There are thirty six minor scales because there are three types of minor scales: natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor. The Key and Chord Identifier will identify ascending melodic minor.

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Chord Identifier

Basis (continued)

(4) For each key, these chords are included in the database for the tool to automatically search and from which to automatically extract responses:

  1. Major key
    • I, I7 and all inversions (tonic)
    • ii, ii7 and all inversions (supertonic)
    • iii, iii7 and all inversions (mediant); also ♭III, III#
    • IV, IV7 and all inversions (subdominant); also IV+
    • V, V7 and all inversions (dominant); also CTo7, V7♭5
    • vi, vi7 and all inversions (submediant); also ♭VI, vi+, Italian (It+6), French (Fr+6), German (Ger+6)
    • vii, viio7 , viiø7 , and all inversions (dominant, subtonic)
  2. Minor keys
    • i, i7 and all inversions (tonic)
    • iio, ii7 , iiø7, and all inversions (supertonic), ♭ii, Neapolitan (N6, ♭ii6), ♭II6
    • III, III7 and all inversions (mediant); also ♭III, III+, III#
    • iv, iv7 and all inversions (subdominant); also iv+, IV+
    • v, v7 and all inversions (dominant); also v+, V+, CTo7, V7♭5
    • VI, VI7 and all inversions (submediant); also VI+, viø7, ♭VI, vi+, Italian (It+6), French (Fr+6), German (Ger+6)
    • VII, VII7, viio, viio7 , viiø7 , and all inversions (dominant, subtonic)

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Chord Identifier

How to use the Chord Identifier

STEP 1: Be sure the music you are writing or assessing is tonal and in four-part harmony (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass). If your music is not tonal or not four-part, this tool is not applicable.

STEP 2: Indicate whether you know the musical key or not. If you know the key, enter either “major” or “minor” and then select the key.

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Chord Identifier

How to use the Chord Identifier (continued)

STEP 3: You can use either the Piano Keyboard or the “Advanced Selector” to enter your notes. Enter the bass note first. The tool will now automatically look up the alternative chords associated with the notes you entered.

Piano Keyboard:

Advanced Selector (useful for double accidentals):

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Chord Identifier

How to use the Chord Identifier (continued)

STEP 4: Review your notes in the musical staff that is shown. You can also listen to the chord if you hit the “play chord” or “play notes individually” buttons. Then scroll down to see the chord analysis results.

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Chord Identifier

Limitations

  • The Chord Identifier can identify possible keys and chords when given 2, 3, or 4 musical notes. It will not identify chords more complex than seventh chords because only up to 4 notes are input by the user.
  • The Chord Identifier will only identify tonal music keys and chords. It will not recognize other types of music such as 12-tone serialism or music written in a pentatonic scale.

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Chord Identifier

System Requirements of the Chord Identifier

  • Requires a computer

Installation

  • Request access to the Music Theory Application to sierrakschmidt@arizona.edu or sierra.k.schmidt@gmail.com
  • You will be required to make a login and password

References

  • Burstein, L. Poudie & Straus, J. N. Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony, 2nd Edition, 2020.
  • Burstein, L. Poudie & Straus, J. N. Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony Workbook, 2nd Edition, 2020.

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Voice Leading Rules Checker

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Voice Leading Rules Checker

Purpose

The voice leading rules checker makes writing and assessing four-voice harmonies more efficient since tonal music rules can be checked quickly. It also makes grading student voice-leading papers more efficient.

A common task for composers, students, and teachers of tonal music is to ensure the notes and chords to be sung or played by the four voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, SATB) follow tonal music rules.

The user enters the musical key and then enters the music notes for up to eight sequential chords in the voice leading rules checker spreadsheet tool. The voice leading rules checker automatically examines each individual chord and also checks the sequence of chords and then identifies adherence to or violation of 37 common voice leading rules.

Examples of the voice leading rules that are automatically checked are voice range, voice crossing, frequency of leading tones, number of semitones of motion, parallel octaves, parallel fifths, and parallel unisons.

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Voice Leading Rules Checker

Design

The Voice Leading Rules Checker is an application that is best used on a laptop or desktop computer since input is via a piano keyboard sketch that may be tool small to view on a mobile phone or tablet. A user can write or assess up to twelve sequential music chords at a time with the Voice Leading Rules Checker. The Voice Leading Rules Checker checks for proper SATB chord structure, proper harmonic progression from chord to chord, including proper note resolution.

Basis

  1. Tonal Harmony: The voice leading rules checker is based on tonal harmony, meaning it applies to music made up of a collection of notes, called a scale, that is centered on a tonic pitch. Major scales and minor scales exist. Each scale is made up of each of the seven note letter names (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G), where some scales use sharps and some scales use flats. In tonal harmony, major scales have these set spacings between the notes: whole tone (W), whole tone (W), semitone (S), whole tone (W), whole tone (W), whole tone (W), or W-W-S-W-W-W. In tonal harmony, natural minor scales have these set spacing between the notes: W-S-W-W-S-W-W.
  2. Four-Part Harmony: The Voice Leading Rules Checker is based on music where each musical chord uses four notes, where each note is intended to be sung by one person. The four voices are called soprano, alto, tenor, bass (SATB). Each subsequent chord also has four notes. The four voices all sing the same rhythm. This SATB format is also called a chorale format. Generally the soprano and alto voices are written on the treble clef and the tenor and bass voices are written on the bass clef.
  3. Keyboard Format: Four-part harmony (SATB) can also be written where the bass clef (left hand part) contains only the bass voice note. The treble clef contains the three upper voices.

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Voice Leading Rules Checker

How to use the Voice Leading Rules Checker

STEP 1: Be sure the music you are writing or assessing is tonal and in four-part harmony (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass). If your music is not tonal or not four-part, this tool is not applicable.

STEP 2: Select “major” or “minor” key, then select the specific musical key.

STEP 3: Select notes from the piano keyboard, starting with the bass note. The notes will turn different colors. After entering the first chord, hit “Enter Next Chord”. If you make a mistake, you can hit the “clear the last chord” button or the “clear all chords” button. You can enter up to 12 chords. You can also push a button to hear the notes. The tool will automatically assign Roman numerals to each chord.

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Voice Leading Rules Checker

How to use the Voice Leading Rules Checker

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STEP 4: The tool’s automatic check of adherence to 37 voice leading rules is shown in the box below the keyboard. The violations are color-coded by severity of the violation.

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Voice Leading Rules Checker

Limitations

  1. This tool does not automatically read in notes written on a musical staff, so the user must enter each note one-by-one.
  2. Some known voice leading rules are not checked. For example, the voice leading rules checker does not check these rules:
    1. In a triad, one note must be doubled;
    2. Never leave out the third of a chord;
    3. It is preferable to double the bass of the root position triad;
    4. It is preferable to double the bass of the second-inversion triad;
    5. Never double tendency tones such as a leading tone;
    6. Occasional leaps of up to a sixth (9 semitones) in the upper voices are okay;
    7. Within chords that are repeated or are sustained, large melodic leaps in the upper voices (chord skips) are okay;
    8. It's okay to move from a perfect fifth to diminished fifth since it does not approach a perfect interval in parallel motion;
    9. Do not move from a diminished fifth (six semitones) to a perfect fifth (seven semitones) (except special cases....);
    10. resolve leading tone in the soprano to the tonic by going up one semitone (it is okay to repeat leading tone before resolving);
    11. A leading tone in an inner voice does NOT need to resolve;
    12. The chordal seventh resolves down by step in both the top voice and an inner voice;
    13. Chordal seventh does not resolve up when in an inner voice
    14. It is okay to repeat a chord (repeating a chord is NOT considered parallel octaves or parallel fifths);
    15. Avoid approaching a perfect octave or perfect fifth between the outer voices in similar motion unless the soprano voice moves by 1 step;
    16. A perfect unison between any two voices should not be approached in similar motion.

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Voice Leading Rules Checker

System Requirements

    • Laptop or desktop computer recommended (the output on a phone or tablet can be cramped)
    • Access to the Automatic Voice Leading Rules Checker Tool (via permission and / or subscription)

References

  • Burstein, L. Poudie & Straus, J. N. Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony, 2nd Edition, 2020.
  • Burstein, L. Poudie & Straus, J. N. Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony Workbook, 2nd Edition, 2020.

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Chord Progression Builder

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Chord Progression Builder

Purpose

This tool aids a student or composer to begin building a musical passage by using sequences of chords with specific Roman numerals. This tool also reports a qualitative analysis of the user’s selected sequence of chords, which can be useful to the user.

Design

This tool can be used on a computer, tablet or phone.

Basis

This tool uses known Roman numeral sequences of in music phrases, including classical cadential progression, jazz, doo-wop, andalusian, circle of fifths, three-chord rock, axis of awesome. The tool also employs functional harmony principles and known cadences to make assessments.

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Chord Progression Builder

How to Use the Chord Progression Builder

Part 1: Choose key type, either major key or minor key. Here you build your sequence of Roman numerals. Choose either “Major Key” or “Minor Key”. Then look for the Roman numerals below the “Add Chord”. Click the first Roman Numeral to add. You’ll see a pop up window for and you will select your chord quality (e.g. triad, diminished, seventh). Then once you select your chord quality you will select your desired chord inversion (e.g. root position, first inversion). The Chord Progression Builder tool will accept your first chord and display it on the screen. Repeat this process for each subsequent chord. In this part you will not add notes. Notes for a chosen key can be added automatically in Part 3 if desired.

Part 2 is an Automatic Analysis. The tool will compare the chord progression you entered in Part 1 to known harmonic functions and voice leading principles. The tool gives a score out of 100 in green font. The numerical score is relative and has no previous known grading basis. If you click on the score you can see how the tool came up with the score. The tool also provides, if found, famous progressions using the same Roman numeral sequence that you entered.

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Chord Progression Builder

How to Use the Chord Progression Builder (continued)

Part 3 is optional. If you’d like to hear sample notes of the chord progression you built, choose a musical key. The tool will generate a four-part harmony based sequence of chords that you can hear if you press the “Play Progression” button.

The final section of the Chord Progression Builder is a series of sample progressions that are preloaded into the tool. They are useful to try out and to listen to.

Limitations

  • A user can string together up to 24 Roman Numerals for analysis.
  • Tonal music is assumed.

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Composition Analysis

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Composition Analysis

Purpose

This tool aids a music student, composer, or teacher to upload electronic music passages of tonal music for automatic analysis.

Design

This tool can be used on a computer, tablet or phone.

Basis

This tool uses known Roman numeral conventions for tonal music. The tool searches through a large database with most known combinations of musical keys, notes, and chords in tonal music.

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Composition Analysis

How to Use the Composition Analysis Tool

Choose an electronic file with music and upload it. The tool accepts .musicxml, .xml, .mxl. It works best with .musicxml.

The tool will automatically display its rendering of the electronic music file in the Musical Notation section. You can press the “Play Composition” button to hear the tool’s rendering of the electronic file. The tool will automatically assess the music and if the tool recognizes a Roman numeral, the tool will write that Roman numeral above the chord.

The tool will also automatically display its Harmonic Analysis in a box below the musical notation. If the tool cannot find a corresponding chord, it will display an asterisk (*), which means that one or more of the notes in this row are non-chordal; they could be passing tones, neighbor tones or grace notes.

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Composition Analysis

Limitations

  • Tonal music is assumed.
  • As of December 2025, this Composition Analysis tool has been tested with compositions made up of quarter notes, half notes, and whole notes. More complicated compositions with sixteenth notes, grace notes, and other note types may not analyze correctly. Also, the displayed uploaded composition will not display dynamic markings nor articulations. The creator is working on these features.
  • The tool only accepts these file formats: .musicxml, .xml, .mxl.
  • If only one note is showing in a beat, the tool will not recognize a chord. The tool needs between 2 and 4 notes. If you enter more than four different notes in a beat, the tool will not recognize the chord. Only triads and seventh chords are currently recognized.
  • SATB format works best.
  • The tool analyzes up to 100 measures of an uploaded file.

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Music Sequences

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Music Sequences

Purpose

This is an exploration tool where common ascending and descending music sequences are described. Several sequences include examples of well-known music that contain the sequences.

Basis

This tool displays common ascending and descending sequences and a provides a known example of the use of a sequence.

Design

This tool can be used on a computer, tablet or phone.

Limitations

  • Not all known music sequences are included.

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Music Sequences

How to Use

  • Select a sequence to view its harmonic progression and musical notation.
  • Click "Play Famous Example" to hear how it sounds in a well-known piece.
  • Click "Play Notation" to hear the sequence pattern repeated three times.
  • Study the Roman numeral analysis to understand the harmonic structure.

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Musical Form

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Musical Form

Purpose

Musical form refers to the structure and organization of a musical composition. Understanding form helps musicians and listeners recognize patterns, anticipate developments, and appreciate the architecture of music.

From small-scale phrase structures like sentences and periods to large-scale forms like sonata form, these organizational principles have been used by composers for centuries to create coherent and expressive musical works.

Each form type presents unique characteristics and compositional possibilities, from the balanced symmetry of binary form to the dramatic narrative arc of sonata form.

Design

This tool can be used on a computer, tablet or phone.

Basis

This tool provides information about the structure of musical sentences, periods, phrase pairs, binary form, ternary form, rondo form, and sonata form.

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Musical Form

How to Use the Musical Form Tools

  • First, select the type of form you wish to explore. Select among these forms in the tool:
    • Sentences
    • Periods and Phrase Pairs
    • Binary Form
    • Ternary and Rondo Forms
    • Sonata Form
  • For each form, the tool displays a description of the form, the outline of the structure of the form, a visual flow chart of the form as shown in the figure, and a famous example with musical notation. You can hit “Play melody” and hear the rendition.

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Musical Form

How to Use the Musical Form Tools (continued)

  • For each form, the tool also displays a structural analysis and key characteristics of each form. Below is a figure showing an example of structural analysis of ternary form.

Limitations

  • Not all known music forms are included.

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Scale Collections

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These interactive tools help you explore various scale systems used in music theory and composition. From the fundamental pentatonic and diatonic scales to more advanced octatonic and hexatonic collections, each tool provides visual and audio resources to deepen your understanding.

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Pentatonic Scales

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Pentatonic Scale

Description

A pentatonic scale contains 5 notes. There are twelve different arrangements, or transpositions, that can be made of a set of five different notes. A pentatonic collection is the set of five scales, or modes, that is associated with a given starting musical note, the root. Each of the five modes for the given root note has a distinctive pattern of major seconds (2 semitones) and minor thirds (3 semitones). When the number of semitones between the five notes follows the pattern 2-2-3-2-3, it is sometimes called the “major pentatonic”. When the pattern is 3-2-2-3-2 it is sometimes called “minor pentatonic”. The naming convention contains the starting note of the major pentatonic. For example for a starting root note “C”:

  • The name of the first pentatonic mode that starts on C, the chosen root, is “PENTC n C”. The notes in that mode are C, D, E, G, A.
  • The second mode in this collection would start on the second note of the first mode, in other words D, E, G, A, C and would be called PENTC on D.
  • The third mode in this collection would start on the third note of the first mode, in other words E, G, A, C, D anc would be called PENTC on E.
  • The fourth mode starts on the fourth note of the first mode: G, A, C, D, E, called PENTC on G.
  • The fifth mode starts on the fifth note of the first mode: A, C, D, E, G, called PENTC on A.

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Pentatonic Scale

How to Use

Click any piano key to select a root note. The five pentatonic modes will be displayed automatically. Each mode shows the scale name, notes, and semitone intervals.

Result: The intervals shown are the number of semitones between consecutive notes in each scale. The user can click the “Play” button to hear the pentatonic mode for the chosen root note.

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Diatonic Scales

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Diatonic Scale

Description

Diatonic scales have seven notes and can also be referred to as heptatonic scales. The seven white notes of the piano form a diatonic collection. There are twelve different transpositions of the diatonic collection, and we can identify them by their traditional key signatures--for example the "2-sharp collection,", abbreviated as DIA2♯.

How to Use

Click a key signature button (number of flats or sharps). All seven diatonic modes will be displayed automatically. Each mode shows the scale name, notes, semitone intervals, and music notation

Note: The diatonic modes are: Ionian (major), Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian (natural minor), and Locrian.

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Here are figures of the Diatonic scale results when user chooses the 1 sharp key signature (note the results for Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian are not shown here but they are displayed in the tool also):

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Octatonic Scales

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Octatonic Scale

Description

Octatonic scales are symmetrical eight-note scales that alternate between half steps (1 semitone) and whole steps (2 semitones). They're commonly used in 20th-century classical music. For example, the pattern 1-2-1-2-1-2-1 creates a unique sound that composers like Stravinsky, Bartók, and Messiaen used extensively.

How to Use

How to use: Press "Play Scale" to hear each note for one second. Press "Play Sample" to hear a short musical example.

The user does not need to enter any starting note. Just scroll through the three octatonic scales that exist.

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Hexatonic Scales

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Hexatonic Scale

Description

Composers of non-tonal music sometimes use non-traditional collections of notes. Non-traditional collections are series of notes that are different than notes in tonal musical keys. The Hexatonic Scale tool helps to identify the notes in a hexatonic collection. Hexatonic scales are six-note scales used in various musical contexts. They include special symmetrical scales like the whole tone and augmented scales, as well as major and minor hexatonic scales.

How to Use

How to use: Select a starting note on the piano keyboard to filter scales. Below the piano sketch, you will see two or more hexatonic scales associated with your selected starting note. You can press the "Play Scale" button to hear each note for one second. For scales with examples, you can watch YouTube videos of famous compositions.

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Whole Tone Scales

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Whole Tone Scale

Description

Intervallic Structure: Each whole tone scale is built exclusively from major seconds (whole steps), creating a perfectly symmetrical division of the octave into six equal parts.

Harmonic Characteristics: The lack of perfect fifths and the equal spacing of intervals creates an ambiguous tonal center. This makes whole tone scales sound "floating" or "suspended," without the traditional tension and resolution of diatonic scales.

Historical Context: While explored by earlier composers like Franz Liszt, whole tone scales became particularly associated with French Impressionism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Claude Debussy used them extensively to create atmospheric, otherworldly soundscapes.

Compositional Usage: Composers often use whole tone scales for dream sequences, water imagery, or to create a sense of mystery and ambiguity. The scale's symmetry means any note can function as a tonal center, giving composers maximum flexibility.

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Whole Tone Scale

Whole tone scales consist entirely of whole steps (2 semitones each), creating a six-note scale that divides the octave equally. There are only two unique whole tone scales in Western music.

The pattern 2-2-2-2-2-2 creates a dreamy, ambiguous sound that lacks the traditional sense of tonal gravity. This quality made it a favorite of Impressionist composers like Claude Debussy.

Why only two scales? Since each scale uses 6 of the 12 chromatic notes, any starting note will produce one of these two collections. The remaining 6 notes create the other scale.

How to Use

This is an exploration tool since only two whole tone scales exist. Just scroll to review the notes. The user may also listen to the scales by pressing the “Play Scale” button.

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12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator

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12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator

Purpose

Analysis of non-tonal music of the twelve-tone serialism type is efficiently completed using a 12x12 matrix based on the composition’s “tone row”. The “tone tow” is the order of the 12 notes (pitch classes) in an octave on which the composition is based. That tone row, or series, becomes the source of the melodies, harmonies, and intervals of the composition.

To analyze a twelve-tone serialism composition, the tone row (also called “Prime”, P) can be played backwards (“Retrograde of Prime”, RP), inverted (“Inversion”,I), or both (“Retrograde of Inversion”, RI).

The ordering of the notes in P, RP, I, and RI is displayed in a 12 x 12 Serialism matrix. This is a compact, useful format for music analysis. Each 12x12 matrix generated is specific to the order of the 12 notes in the tone row.

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12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator

Design

The 12x12 Serialism Matrix generator tool automatically calculates the order of the retrograde prime notes RP, the order of the Inversion notes I, and the order of the retrograde inversion notes RI.

How to Use

STEP 1: Enter the Prime Row (P0) notes in the order of the composition and press “Generate Matrix”

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12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator

STEP 2: Below the Famous Example, find the 12 x 12 Serialism Matrix box with the calculated matrix.

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12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator

Limitations

This tool is not useful for tonal music nor for non-tonal music that is not twelve-tone specifically.

References

Chapter 46, Twelve-Tone Serialism, in the “Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony”, 2nd edition, by L. Poundie Burstein and Joseph N. Straus

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Pitch Detector

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Pitch Detector

Purpose

An important part of a music education is aural training. This tool enables a user to easily practice singing a note and immediately see feedback on how close to a known pitch the sung note is. This allows the user to make quick adjustments and learn faster.

Design

This tool is designed to listen for a single note either sung by a human or played by any instrument.

Included is an ear training exercise, where the user hears a random note. The user then sings or plays it back and the application assesses how close the user sang or played the note. The app delivers an accuracy score.

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Pitch Detector

Additional Feature - Sight Singing Exercises

The user can practice sight singing. The tool provides a simple set of four notes along with the tone for the starting note. The user then sings the first note, and while singing, presses the “Capture Note” button. Then the user moves to the subsequent notes. The tool will assess the user’s vocal matching to the expected frequency of each note.

How to Use

  • Sing or play a single, sustained note
  • Reduce background noise for better accuracy
  • The green zone indicates you're in tune (±5 cents)
  • Use "Play Reference" to hear the perfect pitch
  • Works best with clear, steady tones

Limitations

Background noise affects the application’s ability to recognize the user’s note that is sung or played by an instrument.

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Appendices

  1. Useful Music Theory Aids
    1. Circle of Fifths
    2. Pitch-Class Clock Face
    3. Intervals Table
    4. Musical Keys Table
    5. Scale Intervals
    6. Reasons for Chromaticism
    7. Figured Bass Notation
    8. Musical Symbols Characters for Google Sheets
  2. ChatGPT Input and Output, References 69
  3. Loveable AI Task Timetable (appended .pdf)

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Aids

Shown on the Music Theory Application home page in an appendix called “Useful Music Theory Figures”. When the user selects that box, a new page with a menu of Music Theory Figures appears for the user to select. A snip of that page is shown below. The subsequent pages of this appendix describe each of these six concepts.

These are essential visual references and interactive tools for understanding and applying fundamental music theory concepts.

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Circle of Fifths: A visual representation of the relationships between the 12 tones of the chromatic scale and their key signatures

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Pitch-Class Clock Face: A circular representation of the 12 pitch classes used in pitch-class set theory.

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Music Intervals: This is a comprehensive table of all musical intervals with their characteristics, relationships, and samples.

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Music Keys: This is a complete reference of all major and minor keys with their signatures and relationships.

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Scale Intervals - a list of scales and the intervals between notes

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Reasons for Chromaticism:This is a comprehensive reference guide for identifying and understanding accidentals and chromatic alterations in musical analysis.

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Figured Bass Notation: A comprehensive reference for the numerical shorthand system used in Baroque music to indicate chord inversions and harmonies above a bass line.

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Appendix 1 - Useful Music Theory Figure

Musical Symbols Characters for Google Sheets: In Google Sheets or other applications, use the CHAR() function with the character code. For example, =CHAR(9839) displays ♯ (sharp symbol). Click any symbol to copy it directly to your clipboard.

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Appendix 2 - ChatGPT Output

The ChatGPT Output from September 11, 2025 is included in the next pages after copying and pasting Sierra Schmidt’s original writing in this document.

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🎼 Music Theory Application Instruction Manual

📘 Welcome

Welcome to the Music Theory Application—a comprehensive digital toolkit designed

for music theory students, teachers, and beginning composers. This application

simplifies and accelerates the process of mastering music theory and composing music

by providing user-friendly, tech-enabled tools.

Whether you're analyzing Bach chorales or composing modern serial music, the Music

Theory Application serves as your musical calculator, streamlining traditionally

time-consuming tasks like voice leading analysis and scale identification.

🎯 Objectives

The primary objectives of the Music Theory Application are to:

  • Accelerate the teaching and learning of music theory.�
  • Simplify music analysis and composition tasks.�
  • Reduce dependence on textbooks and rote memorization.�
  • Serve as a musical calculator for theory-related tasks.�
  • Empower composers to write more efficiently and effectively.�

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Tool

Laptop/Desktop

Tablet

Smartphone

Voice Leading Rules Checker

Key and Chord Identifier

12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator

Sequences Identifier

Octatonic Scale Table

Hexatonic Scale Table

Pentatonic Scale Table

Diatonic Scale Table

Whole Tone Scale Table

Chromaticism Logic Table

Classic Chord Progressions Table

📚 Background

Music theory has long been a complex and labor-intensive discipline. Analyzing musical passages and composing according to traditional or modern rules can consume countless hours.

Inspired by how calculators have revolutionized mathematics learning, the Music Theory Application applies a similar concept to music: once the basics are learned, let technology handle the repetitive, rule-based tasks.

The application is built from a learner's perspective, integrating expertise from music theory, spreadsheet engineering, and app development to create a powerful, intuitive experience.

💻 System Compatibility

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🛠️ Tool Descriptions & Usage

🎵 1. Voice Leading Rules Checker

Platform: Laptop/Desktop Only� Purpose: Automatically checks a sequence of up to 8 four-part chords (SATB) for adherence to 37 common voice leading rules.� Steps to Use:

  1. Open the spreadsheet tool.�
  2. Input the key of the passage.�
  3. Enter the notes for each voice in up to 8 sequential chords.�
  4. Review the automated analysis for:�
    • Voice range�
    • Voice crossing�
    • Use of leading tones�
    • Motion (semitones)�
    • Parallel octaves, fifths, and unisons�
    • Many more common tonal rules�

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🎼 2. Key and Chord Identifier

Platform: Laptop/Desktop Only� Purpose: Input a set of notes to receive the likely key and chord names. Useful for analysis and composition.� Steps to Use:

  1. Launch the tool.�
  2. Input your set of notes.�
  3. View identified key and chord possibilities, including inversions.

🔲 3. 12 x 12 Serialism Matrix Generator

Platform: Laptop/Desktop Only� Purpose: Creates a 12-tone matrix from a given tone row for serial composition.� Steps to Use:

  1. Enter your tone row using pitch classes (0–11).�
  2. View the generated matrix including Prime, Inversion, Retrograde, and Retrograde Inversion forms.�

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🔁 4. Sequences Identifier

Platform: All Devices� Purpose: Identifies musical sequences (melodic or harmonic) and their transformations.� Steps to Use:

  1. Input your melody or chord progression.�
  2. The tool detects repeated patterns and shows the type of sequence (real, tonal, harmonic, etc.).�

🎶 5–9. Scale Tables

Platform: All Devices

  • Octatonic Scale Table�
  • Hexatonic Scale Table�
  • Pentatonic Scale Table�
  • Diatonic Scale Table�
  • Whole Tone Scale Table� Purpose: Provide visual and textual representations of scale structures in any key.� Steps to Use:�
  • Select your scale type.�
  • Choose the starting pitch or tonic.�
  • View all scale tones, intervallic structure, and enharmonic variants.�

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🎹 10. Chromaticism Logic Table

Platform: All Devices� Purpose: Visual aid for understanding chromatic alterations and borrowed chords.� Steps to Use:

  1. Select the key and mode.�
  2. View all permissible chromatic alterations and functional relationships.�

🎶 11. Classic Chord Progressions Table

Platform: Laptop/Desktop Only� Purpose: Displays commonly used progressions in tonal music by function and style (Baroque, Classical, Romantic).� Steps to Use:

  1. Choose a style or period.�
  2. View typical progressions with Roman numerals and figured bass.�
  3. Use for analysis or to inspire your own compositions.�

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🧠 Who Should Use This Application?

  • Students studying music theory at beginner or intermediate levels.�
  • Teachers seeking efficient classroom tools.�
  • Composers (especially early-stage) who want structured guidance.�
  • Analysts who regularly evaluate harmonic and melodic content.�

🧩 Gap in Existing Tools

Most existing tools (e.g., musictheory.net, ToneGym) are either too generalized or lack depth in theory-specific utilities. The Music Theory Application is purpose-built for learners and beginning composers, offering hands-on tools with contextual feedback—not just static resources.

📚 References

  • Burstein, L. Poudie & Straus, J. N. Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony, 2nd Edition, 2020.�
  • Burstein, L. Poudie & Straus, J. N. Concise Introduction to Tonal Harmony Workbook, 2nd Edition, 2020.�
  • Adams, R. “Musictheory.net Tools”, https://www.musictheory.net/calculators/chord�
  • “ToneGym”, https://tonegym.co�

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🏁 Getting Started

  1. Download or open the tools appropriate for your device.�
  2. Begin with the Voice Leading Rules Checker or Key/Chord Identifier for harmonic tasks.�
  3. Use scale and chromaticism tables as reference during analysis or composition.�
  4. Consult progression tables for inspiration or verification.�

🆘 Support and Feedback

For troubleshooting, bug reports, or to suggest new features, please contact the development team at:� 📧 support@musictheoryapp.io (placeholder email)� 🌐 www.musictheoryapp.io (placeholder website)

Happy composing and analyzing!� 🎵 Music mastery is now just a few clicks away. 🎵

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System Requirements

  • Operating System: Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later�
  • Storage: 250 MB available space�
  • RAM: 4 GB or more�
  • Processor: Intel i3 or equivalent�
  • Software Requirements: Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets (for the spreadsheet-based version)�

Installation Instructions

  1. Download the Application�
    • Navigate to the official website or university portal to download the 2025 Music Theory Application.�
  2. Extract Files (if necessary)�
    • If the application is provided as a .zip file, extract it to a preferred location on your computer.�
  3. Launch the Application�
    • Double-click on the application icon to open it. The tool will initialize, loading the primary interface.�
  4. Activate the Application�
    • Upon the first launch, you may be prompted to enter an activation key. This will have been provided to you at the time of download.�
  5. Start Using�
    • Once activated, you can begin analyzing music, generating chords, and applying music theory concepts.�

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Using the Application

Navigating the Interface

The main interface consists of multiple tabs, each designed for a specific purpose. Here is a breakdown of the key sections:

  1. Main Dashboard�
    • Quick access to core features, including key and chord generation.�
    • Overview of the five additional musical concepts introduced in 2025.�
    • Links to documentation, lesson plans, and tutorials.�
  2. Music Analysis�
    • Input a set of notes (e.g., from sheet music or a MIDI file) to generate analyses.�
    • Analyze harmony, intervals, scale degrees, and other music theory concepts.�
    • Access a glossary of terms for quick reference.�
  3. Key & Chord Generation�
    • Input a set of notes and the application will suggest possible keys and chords.�
    • Useful for identifying chords in unfamiliar music or generating progressions.�
  4. Music Theory Concepts�
    • Quick reference for various music theory topics.�
    • Topics include chord functions, harmony rules, scale types, cadences, and more.�
    • The new concepts in 2025 will be integrated into this section, covering advanced harmony and analysis.�
  5. Tutorials and Help�
    • Step-by-step lessons on how to use the tool effectively.�
    • Includes video tutorials, common troubleshooting solutions, and FAQs.�
    • Contact support for advanced queries or issues.�

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How to Generate Key and Chord Options

  1. Input Notes�
    • Enter the notes you want to analyze (e.g., C-E-G for a C major chord).�
  2. Select the Chord/Key Tab�
    • Click the “Key & Chord Generation” tab from the dashboard.�
  3. Generate Options�
    • After inputting your notes, click the “Generate Options” button. The tool will list potential keys and chords based on the notes you provided.�
  4. Interpret Results�
    • The tool will display various key options (e.g., C major, A minor) and chord possibilities (e.g., C major, C7).�
  5. Modify Input as Needed�
    • If the suggestions are not what you expected, modify the input (e.g., add accidentals or change the order of the notes) and re-try.�

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Music Theory Concept Exploration

  1. Access the Concept Library�
    • Navigate to the “Music Theory Concepts” tab for an organized list of theory topics.�
  2. Choose a Concept�
    • Select a concept you wish to learn or explore (e.g., “Functional Harmony” or “Diatonic Chords”).�
  3. Learn and Apply�
    • The application will provide a summary, examples, and links to detailed explanations and rules.�
    • Practice applying the concept using built-in exercises or by analyzing your own music.�

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Lesson Plans for Instructors

Overview for Teachers

The 2025 Music Theory Application provides instructors with a set of structured lesson plans designed to integrate the tool into classroom settings. These plans focus on improving both theoretical understanding and practical application of key music theory concepts.

  1. Lesson 1: Introduction to Key and Chord Generation�
    • Students will learn how to use the tool to identify keys and chords in music.�
    • Activities will include inputting note sets, identifying chords, and creating new progressions.�
  2. Lesson 2: Exploring Harmony and Function�
    • Instructors will guide students through exercises in harmonic analysis, using the tool to explore chord functions within a progression.�
    • Emphasis will be placed on applying this knowledge to both theoretical exercises and real-world compositions.�
  3. Lesson 3: Understanding Scale and Mode Construction�
    • Students will learn how to construct scales and modes within various tonal systems.�
    • The lesson will cover diatonic, chromatic, and modal scales and provide opportunities for students to create and analyze their own.�
  4. Lesson 4: Advanced Chord Analysis�
    • Students will use the application to dissect complex chord progressions and apply advanced analysis techniques, including Roman numeral analysis and non-diatonic harmony.�

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Troubleshooting

If you experience issues with the application, consider the following:

  • Application Not Starting�
    • Ensure your computer meets the system requirements.�
    • Check if the application is properly installed and activated.�
  • Errors in Analysis�
    • Double-check the notes you’ve entered to ensure accuracy.�
    • Ensure that your input is within the expected parameters (e.g., no more than 12 notes for chord generation).�
  • Technical Support�
    • For further assistance, visit the official help center, or contact support directly at [support@email.com].�

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