Grade Three Music Theory - Lesson 1: What's New in Grade Three

Welcome to the Grade Three Music Theory Course!

Grade three is a gentle step up from grade two – but you do need to know all the material on the syllabuses for grades 1 and 2 in order to begin grade 3.

The things you need to know already are

• Notes and rests from the semibreve to the semiquaver
• Bass clef and treble clef
• Time signatures 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 2/2, 3/2, 4/2 and 3/8
• Major scales and key signatures in C, G, D, A, F, Bb and E?
• Minor scales (harmonic and melodic) and key signatures in A, E and D
• The degrees of the scale
• Tonic triads (e.g. the chord of C-E-G in C major)
• Interval numbers (e.g. 2nd, 3rd)

In grade three music theory you’ll extend your knowledge of the keys, to include all keys with up to four sharps or flats. This means you’ll be learning 8 new keys:

• E major
• Ab major
• B minor
• G minor
• F# minor
• C minor
• C# minor
• F minor

You’ll also learn three new time signatures:

• 6/8
• 9/8
• 12/8

You’ll learn some new foreign terms and symbols, as well as the demisemiquaver note.

You’ll learn how to transpose music at the octave, using a new clef.

You’ll learn how to describe intervals in more detail, using a type as well as a number.

Are you ready? Let’s get started with grade three music theory!