NCEA L1 Toi Puoro cheat sheet

Toi Puoro: Elements, Notation and Aural Skills

• Pitch is named by letter (A–G) plus octave number; the piano keyboard repeats the pattern C D E F G A B, with C4 middle C and A4 = 440 Hz as the standard tuning reference.

• Interval size is counted inclusively from letter names (C to G is a 5th); interval quality (major, minor, perfect, augmented, diminished) is judged by semitone count: minor 2nd = 1, major 2nd = 2, perfect 4th = 5, perfect 5th = 7, octave = 12 semitones.

• Major scale formula in semitones from the tonic: 2-2-1-2-2-2-1. Natural minor: 2-1-2-2-1-2-2. Harmonic minor raises the 7th degree; melodic minor raises 6th and 7th ascending and reverts descending.

• Key signatures follow the order of sharps F C G D A E B and flats B E A D G C F. A sharp key's tonic is a semitone above the last sharp; a flat key's tonic is the second-to-last flat (F major excepted, one flat).

• Triads are built on scale degrees 1-3-5. Major triad = major 3rd + minor 3rd (root, +4, +7 semitones); minor triad = minor 3rd + major 3rd (root, +3, +7); diminished = +3, +6; augmented = +4, +8.

• Time signatures state beats per bar over beat value: 4/4 is simple quadruple, 3/4 simple triple, 6/8 compound duple (two dotted-crotchet beats, each dividing into three quavers).

• A dotted note adds half its value (dotted minim = 3 crotchets); a tie joins notes of the same pitch across a barline, while a slur joins different pitches to be played legato.

• Chord progressions are labelled with Roman numerals by scale degree; uppercase = major, lowercase = minor, ° = diminished. In a major key: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, vii°; common cadences are V–I (perfect) and IV–I (plagal).