Analyzing Tonal Music

When analyzing tonal music, identify the following:

• The key, written below the staff (use upper case letters to indicate a major key and lower case letters to indicate a minor key)

• Cadences at the end of phrases and sections (for example: PAC or HC)

• Roman numerals for each chord, written below the staff

• Commercial chord symbols, written above the staff (commercial chord symbols always use upper case letters and a small “m” is used to indicate a minor chord)

• Modulations, including identifying the modulatory device used

• Nonharmonic tones

• Types of phrases and periods used

• Harmonic rhythm

• Motives

• Overall form

Identifying Chromatic Notes

When analyzing music, there are several possible sources for chromatic notes:

1. Chromatic passing tones, neighbor tones, and appoggiaturas

2. The raised leading tone in harmonic minor (ti), and raised 6^th and 7^th (la, ti) in melodic minor

3. Chord members of modally borrowed chords in major (le, te, me) and Picardy 3^rd (mi) in minor

4. Chord members of secondary dominants or diminished sevenths, appearing as raised secondary leading tones or lowered 7^ths

5. Chord members of augmented triads in major (di, ri, si)

6. The Neapolitan chord (ra)

7. Chord members of the augmented sixth family (le and fi)