Tenor Clef

The tenor clef is used for notes on the fourth line of the staff. Middle C (C4) sits on the ledger line below the treble clef's bottom line, but in tenor clef, it is written on the fourth line from the bottom (the second line from the top) of the staff.

Major Scales with Six Sharps and Flats

F♯ Major Scale

F♯ major has six sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). The scale pattern is: F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯ – E♯ – F♯

Ascending (without key signature): F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯ F♯

With key signature: Six sharps are written after the treble clef.

G♭ Major Scale

G♭ major has six flats (G♭, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, C♭). The scale pattern is: G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭ – F – G♭

Ascending (without key signature): G♭ A♭ B♭ C♭ D♭ E♭ F G♭

Relative Minor Scales with Six Sharps and Flats

D♯ Minor (Relative to F♯ Major)

• Natural minor: D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C♯ – D♯
• Harmonic minor: D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B – C𝄪 – D♯ (raised 7th; C𝄪 = C double sharp)
• Melodic minor: D♯ – E♯ – F♯ – G♯ – A♯ – B♯ – C𝄪 – D♯ (ascending), descending uses natural minor form

E♭ Minor (Relative to G♭ Major)

• Natural minor: E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D♭ – E♭
• Harmonic minor: E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C♭ – D – E♭ (raised 7th)
• Melodic minor: E♭ – F – G♭ – A♭ – B♭ – C – D – E♭ (ascending), descending uses natural minor form

Compound Intervals

Compound intervals are intervals larger than an octave. They are identified by both quantity (numerical size) and quality (major, minor, perfect, diminished, augmented).

Common compound intervals:

Worked Example: A compound 6th (13th) has the same quality as a simple 6th. If the simple 6th is major, the compound 6th is also major.

Chords and Their Positions

Root Position Chords

Chords built on the root of the scale with the root in the bass. In C major: I (C-E-G), ii (D-F-A), IV (F-A-C), V (G-B-D).

First Inversion

The third of the chord is in the bass. For C major: I⁶ (E-G-C), ii⁶ (F-A-D), IV⁶ (A-C-F), V⁶ (B-D-G).

Second Inversion

The fifth of the chord is in the bass. For C major: I⁶⁴ (G-C-E), ii⁶⁴ (A-D-F), IV⁶⁴ (C-F-A), V⁶⁴ (D-G-B).

Cadences

• Perfect cadence (V–I): Strong, conclusive ending, like a question answered
• Imperfect cadence (I–V, IV–V): Unfinished, like a question
• Plagal cadence (IV–I): Also called "Amen" cadence, used in hymns

Transposition

Transposition means moving a melody from one key to another. Types include:

• Transposition at an octave: Moving melody up or down an octave
• Transposing for B♭ instruments (e.g., clarinet, trumpet): Written pitch sounds a whole step lower than written
• Transposing for F instruments (e.g., French horn): Written pitch sounds a perfect fifth lower
• Transposing for A instruments (e.g., clarinet in A): Written pitch sounds a minor third lower

Worked Example: If a melody in C major is written for B♭ trumpet, the trumpet player reads C but actually sounds B♭. To notate the sounding pitch in concert pitch, write the melody in B♭ major.

Ornaments in Music

Grace Notes

• Appoggiatura: Leaning note played on the beat, resolves by step
• Acciaccatura: Short, crushed note played before the main note, off the beat

Trills

Rapid alternation between main note and the note above. Usually indicated by "tr" above the note.

Turns

Four-note ornament: main note, note above, main note, note below. Written as a small turned symbol above the staff.

In Tanzania, understanding these music fundamentals enables students to play in school bands and ngoma ensembles, transpose songs for different instruments like trumpets and clarinets commonly used in brass bands, and compose original music for school performances and cultural events. A student might use transposition skills to adapt a song written for guitar (standard tuning) to play on a saxophone in a school jazz band, or apply knowledge of cadences to end a composed worship song with a plagal cadence common in Tanzanian church music.